Since many individuals are required to manage their own retirement portfolios, policy levers that aid in retirement planning and saving have become increasingly important.
Behavioral Finance
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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.
February 2022
Since many households lack the ability to weather unexpected financial shocks, how has the pandemic thus far affected Americans’ financial stability?
February 2022
Over the past 40 years, household debt levels have risen substantially in the United States.
April 2021
The number of older Americans has risen dramatically in recent decades, and they are taking increasing responsibility for managing their accumulated wealth.
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.