Knowledge@Wharton Podcast
The Wharton School’s Pension Research Council Welcomes T. Rowe Price as Associate Member
The Pension Research Council at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is pleased to announce that T. Rowe Price has rejoined the Council as an Associate Member for 2026. T. Rowe Price first joined the PRC in 2007.
Wharton School’s Pension Research Council Welcomes Great Gray Trust as Associate Level Member
The Pension Research Council at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is pleased to announce that Great Gray Trust has rejoined the Council as an Associate Level Member for 2026
The Annuities Appeal
Should annuities be a default option in retirement plans? Retirees remain divided, even as Wharton Professor Olivia S. Mitchell’s new research highlights annuities’ potential to provide lifetime income and retirement security. In her recent follow-up article for the WSJ, she addresses readers’ concerns about cost, flexibility, and overall appeal.
The Determinants Behind Boomer Prosperity
US Baby Boomers, now age 61-79, amassed unprecedented retirement wealth, yet it wasn’t entirely due to their good planning skills, reports Wharton economist Prof. Olivia S. Mitchell. Rising productivity, increasing real earnings, and significant housing appreciation boosted their outcomes, while younger generations benefited far less from these forces.
Happy Giving Tuesday!
Giving Tuesday is December 2nd! It’s a global day dedicated to supporting positive impact and strengthening communities. We look forward to sharing how you can support the Pension Research Council’s mission.
Giving Tuesday 2025
Giving Tuesday is December 2nd! It’s a global day dedicated to supporting positive impact and strengthening communities. We look forward to sharing how you can support the Pension Research Council’s mission.
The Health & Finance Literacy Gap
New research from Wharton’s Pension Research Council shows that both financial and health literacy decline with age. Notably, women’s literacy scores start lower, widening a growing vulnerability. Led by Prof. Olivia S. Mitchell, the study calls for intervention in education and plan design.
Funding Long-Term Care With Annuities
A new study by Olivia S. Mitchell and colleagues confirms that annuities still make sense for retirees facing rising long term care costs. The authors find that guaranteed lifetime income, especially from deferred or variable annuities, can help protect people with higher longevity risk.
Saving For Real Retirement Security
Over the past two decades, employers have helped workers save for retirement through automatic 401(k) enrollment and target-date funds. But few help them spend wisely in retirement. Professor Olivia S Mitchell proposes that legislators make annuities the default option in 401(k)s, giving retirees steady income for life. It’s a smart, equitable step toward real retirement ...
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