Navigating Complex Financial Decisions at Retirement: Evidence from Annuity Choices in Public Sector Pensions

Journal of Pension Economics and Finance

Hammond

Vanderweide³

2019

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Choices regarding the disposition of wealth at retirement can have substantial implications for retirement income security. We analyze the factors determining annuity payout option choices within the context of a public sector defined pension plan with no default annuity option. Using combined administrative records and survey data, we explore the role of individual and household characteristics as well as risk preferences, time preferences, and financial literacy. We also document retiree well-being and satisfaction with retirement decision making. The evidence is consistent with predictions over which households might benefit most from each annuity option. Comparing retirees who chose different types of annuities, we find that these groups of retirees report very different levels of well-being in retirement. All retirees report lower levels of retirement income security over time, with strong differences among those who chose different types of annuities.

Section: Regression Analysis Of Annuity Choicementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Well-being In Retirementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Well-being In Retirementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most of these plans also use age 62 for leveling; however, some use 65 or allow the retiree to select the age for leveling (Clark et al . 2018 a , 2018 b ).…”

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Navigating complex financial decisions at retirement: evidence from annuity choices in public sector pensions

Journal of Pension Economics and Finance

Hammond

Vanderweide³

2019

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This research is funded, in part, by a grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.At least one co-author has disclosed a financial relationship of potential relevance for this research. Further information is available online at http://www.nber.org/papers/w25343.ack NBER working papers are circulated for discussion and comment purposes. They have not been peer-reviewed or been subject to the review by the NBER Board of Directors that accompanies official NBER publications.

Work after Retirement: Worklife Transitions of Career Public Employess

Hammond

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The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the Sloan Foundation, Grant Number 2013-10-20. The research reported here is part of an on-going project that is being conducted in partnership with the North Carolina Retirement Systems Division. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the authors and do not represent the opinions or policy of the North Carolina Retirement System, any other institution with which the authors are affiliated, or the National Bureau of Economic Research. NBER working papers are circulated for discussion and comment purposes. They have not been peer-reviewed or been subject to the review by the NBER Board of Directors that accompanies official NBER publications.