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The effect of objective formulation on retirement decision making

Adam Butt and Gaurav Khemka

Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, 2015, vol. 64, issue C, 385-395

Abstract: For a retiree who must maintain both investment and longevity risks, we consider the impact on decision making of focusing on an objective relating to the terminal wealth at retirement, instead of a more correct objective relating to a retirement income. Both a shortfall and a utility objective are considered; we argue that shortfall objectives may be inappropriate due to distortion in results with non-monotonically correlated economic factors. The modelling undertaken uses a dynamic programming approach in conjunction with Monte-Carlo simulations of future experience of an individual to make optimal choices. We find that the type of objective targetted can have a significant impact on the optimal choices made, with optimal equity allocations being up to 30% higher and contribution amounts also being significantly higher under a retirement income objective as compared to a terminal wealth objective. The result of these differences can have a significant impact on retirement outcomes.

Keywords: Bootstrap method; Simulation; Dynamic programming; Optimisation; Retirement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C15 C61 D14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:insuma:v:64:y:2015:i:c:p:385-395

DOI: 10.1016/j.insmatheco.2015.07.004

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Insurance: Mathematics and Economics is currently edited by R. Kaas, Hansjoerg Albrecher, M. J. Goovaerts and E. S. W. Shiu

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