This paper studies the investment decision of the Spanish households using a unique data set, the Spanish Survey of Household Finance (EFF). We propose a theoretical model in which households, given a fixed investment in housing, allocate their net wealth across bank time deposits, stocks, and...

A sustainable standard of living at retirement is an issue of great importance for most retirees, and is certainly a major consideration in the allocation of client portfolios for private wealth managers. This study uses historical returns and incorporates boot strapping techniques to determine...

We develop a measure of (hybrid) defined benefit (DB) pension risk and show how this pension risk affects individual portfolio decisions. We find that people in riskier DB plans are, on average, not only less likely to hold equity but also hold a smaller share of their wealth in equity. This...

We estimate risk aversion from investors' financial decisions in a person-to-person lending platform. We develop a method that obtains a risk aversion parameter from each portfolio choice. Since the same individuals invest repeatedly, we construct a panel dataset that we use to disentangle...

In choosing a glide path strategy for asset allocation over their working lives, retirement savers face a tradeoff between the higher expected wealth provided by strategies that maintain or increase equity holdings over time, against the greater potential security offered from shifting into more...

A line of recent studies cast doubt on the efficacy of the lifecycle investment strategy, which calls for switching into a more conservative investment portfolio as retirement approaches, as a suitable way to provide for the retirement needs of workers with defined-contribution pensions. After...

We analyze different investment strategies by comparing them over a variety of investment horizons. As expected Utility Theory cannot explain the attractiveness of empirically observed strategies, we apply a behavioral approach instead. In particular, we assess attractiveness from the viewpoint...

The United States' aging population puts pressure on the pension system. Pension reforms consider putting more weight on individually managed retirement savings. Public policy and financial planners, being concerned with households making wise asset allocation decisions, need measures to...

The glide path of typical target date funds is based on the relatively simple assumption of risk. If an explicit term structure of risk is present or risk is time-varying, the conventional glide path may not be adequate to fulfil the purpose of target date funds. We introduce a new approach to...

This stochastic simulation analysis examines the risk characteristics of target-date funds focusing on the trade-offs between wealth creation and security. The dynamic portfolio adjustment of marketed target-date funds, with varied asset allocations, along age and various time horizons is shown....