Many have wondered just what the difference is between Trump accounts and other investment methods. Wharton’s Olivia S. Mitchell helps unpack Trump Accounts, explaining how they compare with IRAs and ...

The newest book from the PRC, "Retirement Saving, Investment, and Spending - New Lessons from Behavioral Research" has now published, and is available at Oxford University Press.

Early access to retirement savings can provide important financial flexibility, but withdrawals could come at a cost to future retirement security. Wharton's Olivia S. Mitchell examines how retirement...

The Pension Research Council at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is pleased to announce that Pew Charitable Trusts has joined the Council as an Associate Member for 2026.

Americans are living longer, but the benefits of increased longevity are not shared equally. In research by Bavafa, Mukherjee, and Welch, differences in wealth are closely linked to disparities in hea...

Two-thirds of Americans are more afraid of running out of money than dying, yet only 12% of those age 50+ have bought annuities, a product designed to provide guaranteed lifetime income. Why? New rese...

New research co-authored by Wharton’s Olivia S. Mitchell shows that trust is a key driver of retirement saving. When people trust financial institutions, they’re more likely to invest, save, and build...

Recent research co-authored by Wharton’s Olivia S. Mitchell unpacks the “annuity puzzle:” why retirees underutilize lifetime income solutions despite their benefits. Discover how behavioral nudges, si...

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 e...

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 polic...

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 bene...

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...

The Pension Research Council at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is pleased to announce that Gaja Capital has joined the Council as an Associate Member for 2026.

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...

What drives individuals to avoid annuities, even when they offer protection against outliving their savings? Hallstein, Liebler, and Maurer highlight the role of loss aversion, showing how fear of “lo...

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, ...

What steps can solo-agers take to protect their independence as housing and financial needs evolve? Anna Rappaport highlights the critical role of proactive housing decisions, financial planning, and ...

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 investin...

Elon Musk believes that AI will make retirement saving obsolete, but Wharton professor Olivia S. Mitchell calls the advice risky and potentially financially damaging. Experts understand that optimisti...

What drives financial well-being across different measures and life outcomes? Through their research, Professors Coats and Bajtelsmit find that income, financial confidence, financial literacy, and pa...

Wharton professor Olivia S. Mitchell explains that many retirees underspend because they fear running out of money. That fear can be eased by securing guaranteed lifetime income, such as through lifet...

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 f...

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 incom...

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 productivi...

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 m...

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 m...

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...

America’s long-term care system is failing to prepare for an aging population. Economists R. Anton Braun and Karen Kopecky reveal how Medicaid’s design is leaving most Americans to shoulder huge out-o...

When it comes to longevity, the U.S. is falling far behind its peers. Through his analysis, Steve Utkus reveals a sobering reality - Americans not only live shorter lives than citizens of other wealth...

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...

In their research, Gianpaolo Parise and Kim Peijnenburg demonstrate that traits such as conscientiousness, grit, locus of control, and emotional stability significantly shape individuals’ saving, inve...

Trump-era policies threaten retirement security. As Wharton Prof. Olivia S. Mitchell warns, with retirees reliant on Social Security and safeguards, it’s urgent to plan ahead and press for reform befo...

@Wharton Prof. @OS_Mitchell warns: most US #retirees rely on #SocialSecurity, but benefits are in danger of cuts within 7 years. Restoring the system’s solvency is critical for younger people who will...

When it comes to longevity, the U.S. is falling far behind its peers. Through his analysis, Steve Utkus reveals a sobering reality - Americans not only live shorter lives than citizens of other wealth...

America’s retirement system gets a grade of C+. @Wharton Prof. @OS_Mitchell and others discuss how a #nationalcontribution plan paired with #lifetimeincome could raise the grade and address problems o...