We study optimal portfolio choice and labour market participation in a continuous time setting in which agents face health shocks, medical expenses, and random lifetimes. We explore the implications of different forms of health coverage and study their impact on dynamic portfolios and labour...

Optimal timing of retirement is an important part of retirement planning. We consider three types of individuals distinguished by the way they use information when deciding the retirement time. For each of these types, we analyze two elements influencing the decision, the market model and the...

In this paper we employ a lifecycle model that uses utility of consumption and bequest to determine an optimal Deferred Income Annuity (DIA) purchase policy. We lay out a mathematical framework to formalize the optimization process. The method and implementation of the optimization is explained,...

In this paper, we develop an expected utility model for the retirement behavior in the decumulation phase of Australian retirees with sequential family status subject to consumption, housing, investment, bequest and government provided means-tested Age Pension. We account for mortality risk and...

This paper explores the application of contingent claims analysis (CCA) to two quot;hotquot; issues in life-cycle finance: (1) investing for retirement and (2) deciding when, if ever, to switch careers. Participants in individual retirement accounts do not have the time or the knowledge to make...

Means-tested pension policies are typical for many countries and are very important to the pension system. These policies are specific for each country, and the assessment of policy changes is critical for policy makers. In this paper we consider the Australian means-tested Age Pension. The...

We document the pattern by which Canadians de-accumulate financial wealth during retirement – and find it rather puzzling. While the Modigliani lifecycle model can justify a variety of de-accumulation or draw down rates depending on risk preferences, the existence of asymmetric taxes imply...

The Australian Government uses the means-test as a way of managing the pension budget. Changes in Age Pension policy impose difficulties in retirement modelling due to policy risk, but any major changes tend to be ‘grandfathered' meaning that current retirees are exempt from the new changes....

In this paper we generalize the following result of Yaari (1965) on annuitization with an agent's optimal retirement: it is optimal for individuals to annuitize all of their wealth in the absence of bequest motive. We have other results that refine or extend the result of Yaari (1965). Full...