Description: This article presents the findings of an Urban Institute study sponsored by the Pension Section and the Actuarial Foundation examining the election of joint and survivor annuities by married adults. From Pension Section News, June 2004, Issue No. 55.

Description: This article discusses the challenges to today's retirement system. As part of the recent Re-envisioning Work and Retirement in the 21st Century symposium, held in Washington, D.C., attendees completed a Delphi survey covering challenges to today's retirement system. This article discusses the benefits of a Delphi survey and the results of this particular one. From Pension Section News, September 2006, No. 62.

Description: Presented at the Living to 100 Symposium, January 2011. In India, the prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases has been increasing tremendously. This spurt of diseases and the resultant morbidity is severely affecting the quality of life of the elderly. The problem is compounded by a medical and health care infrastructure which is inadequate to meet the challenge. This paper analyzes and estimates, using actuarial tools, the effect on the economy with particular focus on the present and future elderly segment of the population, identifies opportunities for insurers to address the situation, and suggests remedial measures to deal with the situation. Medico-actuarial studies in this area will also be covered.

Description: Discussant comments for the 2009 Housing Wealth monograph paper, “The Impact of Diminishing Wealth on Future Consumption: How Housing Wealth Affects Retirement Planning.” The goal of the paper is to help financial professionals and plan sponsors recognize that retirement planning is being influenced by new factors and suggests ways they can readjust retirement planning strategies. The discussant has additional suggestions for financial professionals.

Description: Monograph about how reverse mortgages could supplement income for older homeowners. The results indicate that reverse mortgages may offer substantial benefits but at a high price.

Description: This paper looks at the spending decisions that are made during retirement and some of the options and choices available.

Description: As the retirement system has shifted to a greater focus on defined contribution plans and personal responsibility, post-reitrement risk management has grown in importance. This report covers the study of the process of retirement.

Description: This document provides key findings from the 2007 Risks and Process of Retirement Survey related to how respondents conceive retirement and how they retire.

Description: This report provides background on U.S. trends in the timing of retirement, the claiming of benefits behavior, including discussion of labor force participation trends, the timing of commencement of Social Security, phased retirement alternatives, work as part of retirement, and the effects of retirement plan participation on these decisions. This study evaluates several of the more common retirement timing and claiming strategies using a retirement simulation model that incorporates investment, inflation, health and long-term care risks. Results of these simulations provide insight into the comparative risk exposures and costs of various retirement timing and claiming strategies for typical retiree households.

Description: This issue brief focuses on the importance of analyzing the pros and cons of taking a lump sum or monthly annuity payments upon retirement from the workforce.