Aging and Retirement Research Reports

If you’re looking for research projects and reports on retirement and aging, you’ve come to the right place. The SOA offers a variety of research from the Committee on Post-Retirement Needs and Risks.

Summary Handout of Recent Retirement Research (January 2017)

2019

• 2017 Retirement Risk Survey
  March  
  The SOA Committee on Post Retirement Needs and Risks is pleased to make available the full report, an overview report, and other reports highlighting important findings for the biennial survey, Risks and Process of Retirement.
• Understanding and Managing Post-Retirement Risks
  February
  The Society of Actuaries is pleased to make available a series of reports highlighting the SOA’s extensive body of research on post-retirement risks and issues.

2018

• Modeling and Forecasting Chinese Population Dynamics in a Multi-Population Context 
  December 
  The purpose of this project is to forecast China's population structure in the coming decades by projecting both the mortality and fertility rates of the Chinese population. In particular, we forecast China's future mortality rates in a multiple-population context, by explicitly allowing its systematic mortality patterns to gradually converge to those of a group of more developed countries with higher life expectancy levels and better data quality.
• A Conversation on Dementia and Cognitive Decline
  December
  The Society of Actuaries (SOA) is pleased to make available a report summarizing key points made during an online discussion through the SOA’s Aging & Retirement Strategic Research Program and issues related to dementia and cognitive decline. Participants included actuaries, retirement researchers, financial advisors, attorneys, economists, and financial writers.
• The Sightlines Project – Seeing Our Way to Financial Security in the Age of Increased Longevity
  November
  The Society of Actuaries (SOA) is pleased to make available research material from the Stanford Center on Longevity (SCL). The SOA was one of several sponsors of this report that focuses on predictions of financial security at different life stages using pertinent findings from the earlier Sightlines report on financial security.
• Retirement Literacy
  October
  The Society of Actuaries Committee on Post Retirement Needs and Risks and Financial Finesse are pleased to make available a series of briefs focused on retirement literacy issues.
• Securing Future Retirements Essay Collection
  May
  The Society of Actuaries (SOA) Committee on Post-Retirement Needs and Risks is pleased to present this essay collection, which shares thoughts and opinions on how to advance the state of effective planning strategies, products and employee benefit plan structures to help secure future retirements.
• Post-Retirement Experiences of Individuals 85+ Years Old
  May
  The Society of Actuaries’ Committee on Post Retirement Needs and Risks is pleased to make available two research reports on post-retirement experiences of individuals 85+ years old. The study seeks to understand how the habits and behaviors from earlier in life played out in the later years of retirement.

2017

• Optimizing Retirement Income by Integrating Retirement Plans, IRAs, and Home Equity
  December
  The Society of Actuaries’ Committee on Post Retirement Needs and Risks and the Retirement Section are pleased to make available a report providing a framework of analyses and methods that various stakeholders can use to compare and assess strategies for developing lifetime retirement income.
• Living to 100 Monograph
  September
  Access the monograph on longevity and retirement from the SOA Living to 100 Symposium.

2016

• Diverse Risks Essays Collection
  April
• The Future of Retirement in China
  March
• How Americans Manage Their Finances – Results of the Financial Management Survey
  January
• 2015 Retirement Risk Survey  
  January
• Post-Retirement Experiences of Individuals Retired for 15 Years or More
  January

2015

• 2015 Presentation to the Gerontological Society of Actuaries: The Link Between Retirement Security and Long-Term Care
  November
• Investment and Retirement Advice – A Guide for Employers
  November
• 2015 Presentation to the Chicago Actuarial Association: Post-Retirement Needs and Risks: What Do We Really Know?
  October
• Optimal Retirement Income Solutions in DC Retirement Plan
  July

2014

• Models of Financial Advice for Retirement Plans: Considerations for Plan Sponsors
  December
• Managing the Impact of Long-Term Care Needs and Expense on Retirement Security
  December 
• Foundations in Research for Regulatory Guidelines on the Design & Operation of Retirement Income Solutions in DC Plans
  September
• 2014 Living to 100 Symposium
  January

2013

• 2013 Retirement Risk Survey
  November
  • Full Report
    Key Findings and Issues-Understanding and Managing the Risks of Retirement
    Key Findings and Issues - Experiencing Change in Retirement
    Key Findings and Issues - Personal Risk Management
    Key Findings and Issues – Impact of Retirement Risk on Women
    Material Related to the Report on Impact of Retirement Risk on Women
    Presentation of the Retirement Risk Survey and Focus Groups
• The Next Evolution in Defined Contribution Retirement Plan Design – A Guide for DC Plan Sponsors to Implementing Retirement Income Programs
  September
• The Decision to Retire and Post-Retirement Financial Strategies: A Report on Eight Focus Groups
  September
• Middle Market Retirement: Approaches for Retirees and Near-Retirees
  March
• Segmenting the Middle Market: Retirement Risks and Solutions-Phase 1 Report Update to 2010 Data
  January

2012

• Approaching the Underserved Middle-Market: Insights from Planners
  December
• Two Surveys: Understanding and Managing Retirement Risks in Canada and the United States
  December
• Running Out of Money in Retirement
  November
• MetLife Study of Family Structure and Financial Well-Being
  September
  • The New American Family
    Family Structure Highlights
    Family Structure Planning Tips
• Managing Retirement Decisions   
  January
• Helping People Make Better Retirement Decisions: Resources from the SOA–Webcast for RIIA
  January  

2011

• 2011 Presentation to the Actuarial Society of Greater New York: Deeper Dive into Post Retirement Risk: Important Research about Retirement
  November
• The Financial Recovery for Retirees Continues
  November  
• Managing Post–Retirement Risks–A Guide to Retirement Planning (Risk Chart)
  October  
• Retirement Risks and Solutions in the Middle Market–RIIA Webinar
  March  
• 2011 Retirement Risk Survey
  March
  • Full Report
    Key Findings and Issues–Understanding and Managing the Risks of Retirement
    Key Findings and Issues-Longevity
    Key Findings and Issues-Working in Retirement
    Key Findings and Issues-The Impact of the Economy on Individual Retirement Risks
• Understanding Longevity: What to Tell Your Clients
  February  
• Retirement Security in the New Economy: Paradigm Shifts, New Approaches and Holistic Strategies
  February  
• 2011 Living to 100 Symposium
  January

2010

• Housing in Retirement Round Table   
  September
• Segmenting the Middle Market: Retirement Risks and Solutions–Phase 2 Report  
  September

2009

• Retirement Planning Software and Post-Retirement Risks
  December
• Housing in Retirement Monograph
  September  
• What a Difference a Year Makes   
  July
• Segmenting the Middle Market: Retirement Risks and Solutions–Phase 1 Report   
  April
• Will Retirement Assets Last a Lifetime?   
  March
• 2009 Retirement Risk Survey
  March
  • Full Report
    Key Findings and Issues–The Impact of the Economy on Retirement Risks
    Key Findings and Issues–Understanding and Managing the Risks of Retirement
    Key Findings and Issues–The Impact of Retirement Risk on Women
    Key Findings and Issues–Process of Planning and Personal Risk Management  
   

2008

• 2008 Living to 100 Symposium
  January

2007

• Needs and Spending in Retirement: Unraveling the Mystery
  October  
• Perspectives on Retirement Planning and Consumption
  October  
• Roundtable on Lifecycle Model Transcript
  September  
• 2007 Retirement Risk Survey
  May
  • Full Report  
    Key Findings and Issues–Understanding and Managing the Risks of Retirement
    Key Findings and Issues–Phases of Retirement
    Key Findings and Issues–Health and Long–Term Care Risks in Retirement
    Handouts from webcast on the 2007 Retirement Risk Survey
• Public Misperceptions About Retirement Security Closing the Gaps
  April  

2006

• Spending and Investing in Retirement–Is There a Strategy?
  July  

2005

• 2005 Retirement Risk Survey
  March
  • Full Report
    Key Findings and Issues–Impact of Retirement Risk on Women
    Key Findings and Issues–Risks of Retirement
    Key Findings and Issues-Phased Retirement
    Key Findings and Issues–Longevity and Retirement Risk
• Public Misperceptions About Retirement Security
  February  
• 2005 Living to 100 Symposium
  January

2004

• Managing Retirement Assets Symposium
  June  
• Retirement Plan Preferences Survey
  January

2003

• Retirement Implications of Demographic and Family Change
  June
• Retirement Planning Software
  January  
• 2003 Retirement Risk Survey
  January
  • Full Report
    Key Findings and Issues–Risks of Retirement
    Key Findings and Issues–Process of Retirement

2002

• Economic Security for an Aging Canadian Population
  July  
• Retirement Needs Framework
  July  
• The Old-Age Crisis - Actuarial Opportunities
  July  
• 2002 Living to 100 Symposium
  January

2001

• 2001 Retirement Risk Survey
  February
  • Key Findings and Issues  
    Full Report  
   

Other Resources

Living to 100
Living to 100 is a research effort which includes a triennial international research symposium.