Can Target-Date RILAs be the Next Thing in Retirement Plans?

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Expanding DC plan investment options, particularly default investments, could boost participation and reduce risk for employees, suggest Cameron Ellis of the University of Iowa, Thorsten Moenig of Temple University, and Jacqueline Volkman-Wise of Saint Joseph’s University. Via RetireSecureblog. Read More

Four Ways to Enhance Retirement Wealth and Reduce Retiree Inequality in the U.S.

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The US racial wealth gap is evident not only in household wealth but also in retirement wealth. Policy reform could increase household wealth and improve equality outcomes, explain David C. John of the AARP Public Policy Institute and Brookings Institute, J. Mark Iwry of the Wharton School and Brookings Institute, and William G. Gale of the Brookings Institution. Via RetireSecure blog.Read More

How Annuities Can Enhance Retirement

A torn piece of paper revealing part of a Benjamin Franklin portrait from a US hundred-dollar bill. Text reads "How Annuities Can Enhance Retirement," with "News from the Pension Research Council" in the corner.

In a research paper (Jan. 2023), co-authors Vanya Horneff and Raimond Maurer from Goethe University at Frankfurt, and Olivia S. Mitchell from Wharton underscore the value of integrating deferred income annuities into retirement plans. Their study suggests that waiting until age 70 for Social Security benefits, alongside the SECURE 2.0 Act’s emphasis on annuities, can significantly enhance retirement welfare. This highlights a valuable strategy for retirees to optimize their benefits and improve financial security. Read More