We test a parametric retirement spending strategy incorporating constant spending, variable spending, smoothing, and mortality updating, which reduces to common strategies with suitably chosen parameters. We examine the relationship between spending and shortfall risk over a large universe of...

This paper compares two diff erent types of private retirement plans from the perspective of a representative benefi ciary: De fined Benefi t (DB) and Defi ned Contribution (DC) plan. One of the key di fferences is that DB plans carry portability risks, whereas DC plans bear asset and...

Annuities are perceived as being illiquid financial instruments, and this has limited their attractiveness to consumers and inclusion in financial models. However, short positions in annuities can be replicated using life insurance and debt, permitting long positions in annuities to be offset,...

The present paper analyzes optimal supervisory rules for pension funds taking account of diverse pension security mechanisms: support provided by either a pension guarantee fund, a plan sponsor or by both. Assuming that the regulatory rule is either to control the shortfall probability or...

Social Security trust fund portfolio diversification to include some equities reduces the equity premium by raising the safe real interest rate. This requires changes in taxes. Under the hypothesis of constant marginal returns to risky investments, trust fund diversification lowers the price of...

If household portfolios are constrained by borrowing and short-sales restrictions asset markets, then alternative retirement savings systems may affect household welfare by relaxing these constraints. This paper uses a calibrated partial-equilibrium model of optimal life-cycle portfolio choice...

The financial crisis of 2008 cut deeply into the retirement savings of most retirees and those who are soon to retire. Add to this the clear trends of longer life expectancies and more active retirements and it becomes clear that portfolios must be structured to minimize the risk of asset...

Regulation in countries that have adopted defined contribution (DC) pension systems based on savings accounts typically includes minimum return guarantees (MRG) provisions to limit the risk of financial downturns. This paper studies the consequences of this regulation over asset allocation...