The Future of Healthy Aging
and Successful Retirement

Join leading experts at the 2025 “The Future of Healthy Aging and Successful Retirement” conference, where the complex interplay between longevity, cognitive function, and financial wellbeing in later life takes center stage. The event features thought-provoking talks from world-renowned researchers like David McCarthy on global longevity prospects and Norma Coe on the impact of retirement on cognitive health. Sessions explore urgent issues like financial decision-making during cognitive decline, AI’s role in the future workforce, and the growing inequality among aging populations. With insights on innovative financial planning tools and policies for healthy aging, this conference promises to ignite meaningful discussions on the future of aging, work, and wealth.

Our symposium is by invitation only and limited to members. Click here for more information about membership.

• Stephen P. Utkus, The Wharton School

• Samer Atshan, University of Southern California

• Andrew Scott, London Business School

• Sita Slavov, George Mason University

• Carlo Pizzinelli, International Monetary Fund

• Raimond Maurer, Goethe University Frankfurt

• Sudipto Banerjee, T. Rowe Price

• Vijeth Iyengar, AARP

• Norma B. Coe, Penn Medicine

• Andrew Gellert, TIAA Institute

• Anita Mukherjee, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Gary Burtless, The Brookings Institution

• Kwanho Shin, Korea University

• Sarah Holden, Investment Company Institute

• Laura Carstensen, Stanford University

Welcome and Overview: Surya Kolluri, TIAA Institute
Opening Remarks:
Moderator: Surya Kolluri, TIAA Institute
Amal Abou Rafeh, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs: “Midway through the Decade of Healthy Aging” (Slides available here).

Session I: Setting the Scene: Health, Wealth, and Aging
Moderator: Irma Elo, University of Pennsylvania
• David McCarthy, University of Georgia: “Mortality Postponement, Mortality Compression and Successful Retirement” (Slides available here).
• Steve Utkus and Olivia S. Mitchell, Pension Research Council/The Wharton School: “Extending Healthspan in an Aging World” (Slides available here).
Discussant: Jason Karlawish, University of Pennsylvania

Session II: The Aging Brain and Financial Wellbeing in Later Life
Moderator: Jason Levy, Great Gray Trust
• Norma Coe, University of Pennsylvania, Patrick Arp, Ohio State, and Lindsay White, University of Pennsylvania: “Retirement and Cognitive Function in Later Life” (Slides available here).
• Samer Atshan, Marco Angrisani and Jinkook Lee, University of Southern California: “Cognitive Function and Household Financial Decisions at Older Ages: A Cross-Country Analysis” (Slides available here).
• Andrew Gellert and Surya Kolluri, TIAA Institute: “Unready: The State of Preparedness of Caregivers” (Slides available here).
Discussant: Gary Mottola, FINRA

Moderator: Nick Roussanov, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Keynote: “Investing in Our Future Selves: Policy Perspectives”
Speaker: Andrew Scott, London Business School. (Slides available here).

Session III: Closing the Working Age, Health, and Wealth Gaps

Moderator: Sylvain Catherine, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
• Hessam Bavafa, Anita Mukherjee, and Tyler Welch, University of Wisconsin: “Inequities in How Wealth Shapes Healthy and Workfree Later Life” (Slides available here).
• Sita Slavov, George Mason University, and Hyeran Chung, University of Texas: “Does Retirement Drive Health or Health Drive Retirement?” (Slides available here).
Discussant: Mark Pauly, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

• Gary Burtless, Brookings Institute: “Inequality and the Relative Well-being of America’s Seniors” (Slides available here).
• Carlo Pizzinelli and Marina Mendes Tavares, International Monetary Fund: “AI and the Future of Work in an Aging Economy” (Slides available here).
Discussant: John Scott, The Pew Charitable Trusts

Evening Dinner and Keynote: “Global Aging and Growth: Is There a Silver Dividend?”
Moderator: Mike Orszag, WTW
Speaker: Kwanho Shin, Korea University, with Donghyun Park, Asian Development Bank. (Slides available here).

Session IV: Innovations for the Labor Market, Healthcare, and Finances

Moderator: Kai Walker, Bank of America
• Vanya Horneff and Raimond Maurer, Goethe University Frankfurt, and Olivia S. Mitchell, University of Pennsylvania: “Defaulting 401(k) Assets into Payout Annuities For “Pretty Good” Lifetime Incomes” (Slides available here).
• Sarah Holden and Jason Seligman, Investment Company Institute: “Older Households’ Goals and Resources Throughout Retirement” (Slides available here).
• Sudipto Banerjee, T. Rowe Price: “Navigating Healthcare Costs in Retirement” (Slides available here).
Discussant: Bob Crothers, BlackRock

Session IV: Roundtable: Policy Perspectives on Healthy Aging and Successful Retirement
Moderator: Olivia S. Mitchell, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
• Laura Carstensen, Stanford University: “Research Perspectives on the Decade of Healthy Aging”
• Vijeth Iyengar, AARP: “Policy Perspectives on the Decade of Healthy Aging” (Slides available here).

Closing remarks: Olivia S. Mitchell, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania