The number of older Americans has risen dramatically in recent decades, and they are taking increasing responsibility for managing their accumulated wealth.
Behavioral Finance
Primary tabs
The psychology of decision making
How information is presented, or “framed,” and other personal biases affect decision-making. The TIAA Institute focuses on such issues as how to motivate people to make decisions about when to claim Social Security, whether or not to annuitize, and how to save for retirement.
TIAA Institute Reports
Original research produced by the TIAA Institute—both independently and in collaboration with noted scholars—examines topics of interest to the academic, nonprofit and public sectors. The reports combine statistical findings with thoughtful, data-driven observations and conclusions to provide in-depth analyses that are informative and appropriate for both technical and general audiences.
March 2021
Many people have only a vague notion of the concept of longevity risk, which in turn implies they are likely to save too little for retirement and have a low demand for longevity insurance products.
March 2021
What makes a market for annuity contracts successful, and what are the key demand and supply constraints that affect the performance of such a market?
March 2021
Behavioral researchers have explored a variety of potential “nudges” designed to increase retirement savings. But selecting from among different approaches can be surprisingly difficult.
March 2021
Women increasingly are using gig work as a supplemental source of income. What does it mean for their retirement security?
February 2021
As policymakers, financial services firms and individuals turn their attention to the decumulation phase of retirement saving, annuities are gaining renewed interest.
February 2021
There is mounting evidence of minorities’ financial struggles and persistent wealth gaps compared to whites, along with substantial gender differences in indicators of financial wellness.
January 2021
The starting age for required minimum distributions from tax-qualified retirement plans was raised in 2019 from 70.5 to 72. How might this change affect household financial behavior?
December 2020
Recognizing households’ needs for flexibility, while discouraging overconsumption, how much liquidity should be built into a socially optimal savings system?