Most people don’t plan for the risk of living “too long” and the cost it imposes on their retirement. Wharton’s Olivia S. Mitchell explains in this interview how improving longevity literacy could transform financial decision-making and prevent retirement regret.…Read More
Older Americans are carrying more debt into retirement, raising concerns about long-term retirement security as living costs continue to climb. Wharton’s Olivia S. Mitchell explains that longer life expectancies and persistent inflation are making it harder for many retirees to maintain their financial footing. Read her insights here.…Read More
What if annuities were marketed less as investments, and more as insurance against outliving your savings? New research from a team including Wharton’s Olivia S. Mitchell argues that consumption-focused framing could change how people approach retirement income planning. Read more about the working paper and its implications here.…Read More
Hosted by Olivia S. Mitchell and Nikolai Roussanov, Wharton’s Pension Research Council held its annual Spring Symposium in May of 2026, bringing together leading academics, Industry experts, and policymakers to explore the rise of public debt and how it shapes saving, investments, and retirement. Presentations covered the federal debt, social security, investment trends, and retirement wellbeing. …Read More
Dr. Sylvain Catherine, an Advisory Board member of Wharton’s Pension Research Council, explains why traditional measures of U.S. wealth inequality are incomplete when they exclude Social Security benefits. Read his Q&A with Knowledge at Wharton to learn more.…Read More
Join WIPN Philadelphia on June 10 for an evening with Dr. Olivia Mitchell! In this fireside chat, hear from Prof. Mitchell, who has shaped national conversations around retirement security for decades. …Read More
Many Americans may not realize that “Trump Accounts” still lack key details despite promises of a financial head start for kids. Critics warn they could deepen inequality and offer limited benefits to lower-income families. Wharton economist Olivia S. Mitchell stresses that narrow investment rules and access barriers may limit their impact on long-term financial security.…Read More
Many Americans may not realize that key details around proposed “Trump Accounts” are still unsettled, especially how funds will be invested. Early signals suggest a heavy tilt toward U.S. equity index funds, but calls for broader diversification are growing. Wharton economist Olivia S. Mitchell emphasizes that understanding these limits and pushing for diversified options will be key to retirement security.…Read More
Most Americans don’t realize Social Security benefits could be cut by ~20% in as soon as 6 years if Congress doesn’t act. Wharton economist Olivia S. Mitchell emphasizes that understanding the risks, increasing savings, and making smart claiming decisions now are critical to protecting long-term retirement security.…Read More
President Trump says new child savings accounts can build generational wealth, but Wharton School economist Professor Olivia S. Mitchell emphasizes that consistent contributions and long-term investing are key to realizing meaningful rewards. Thoughtful planning across a long compounding window can assure consistent results.…Read More
