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Optimal Gradual Annuitization: Quantifying the Costs of Switching to Annuities

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  • Wolfram J. Horneff
  • Raimond H. Maurer
  • Michael Z. Stamos

Abstract

We compute the optimal dynamic annuitization and asset allocation policy for a retiree with Epstein–Zin preferences, uncertain investment horizon, potential bequest motives, and pre‐existing pension income. In our setting the retiree can decide each year how much he consumes and how much he invests in stocks, bonds, and life annuities, while the prior literature mostly considered restricted so‐called deterministic or stochastic switching strategies. We show that postponing the annuity purchase is no longer optimal in the gradual annuitization (GA) case since investors are able to attain the optimal mix between liquid assets (stocks and bonds) and illiquid life annuities each year. In order to assess potential utility losses, we benchmark various restricted annuitization strategies against the unrestricted GA strategy.

Suggested Citation

  • Wolfram J. Horneff & Raimond H. Maurer & Michael Z. Stamos, 2008. "Optimal Gradual Annuitization: Quantifying the Costs of Switching to Annuities," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 75(4), pages 1019-1038, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jrinsu:v:75:y:2008:i:4:p:1019-1038
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6975.2008.00295.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Maria Alexandrova & Nadine Gatzert, 2019. "What Do We Know About Annuitization Decisions?," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 22(1), pages 57-100, March.
    2. Wolfram J. Horneff & Raimond H. Maurer, 2008. "Deferred Annuities and Strategic Asset Allocation," Working Papers wp178, University of Michigan, Michigan Retirement Research Center.
    3. Kim Peijnenburg & Theo Nijman & Bas J.M. Werker, 2017. "Health Cost Risk: A Potential Solution to the Annuity Puzzle," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 127(603), pages 1598-1625, August.
    4. Horneff, Wolfram J. & Maurer, Raimond H. & Mitchell, Olivia S. & Stamos, Michael Z., 2010. "Variable payout annuities and dynamic portfolio choice in retirement," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 9(2), pages 163-183, April.
    5. Sanders, Lisanne & De Waegenaere, Anja & Nijman, Theo E., 2013. "When can insurers offer products that dominate delayed old-age pension benefit claiming?," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(1), pages 134-149.
    6. Post, Thomas, 2009. "Individual welfare gains from deferred life-annuities under stochastic Lee-Carter mortality," SFB 649 Discussion Papers 2009-022, Humboldt University Berlin, Collaborative Research Center 649: Economic Risk.
    7. Horneff, Vanya & Kaschützke, Barbara & Maurer, Raimond & Rogalla, Ralph, 2014. "Welfare implications of product choice regulation during the payout phase of funded pensions," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 13(3), pages 272-296, July.
    8. Griselda Deelstra & Pierre Devolder & Roberta Melis, 2021. "Optimal annuitisation in a deterministic financial environment," Decisions in Economics and Finance, Springer;Associazione per la Matematica, vol. 44(1), pages 161-175, June.
    9. Benjamin Avanzi & Lewis de Felice, 2023. "Optimal Strategies for the Decumulation of Retirement Savings under Differing Appetites for Liquidity and Investment Risks," Papers 2312.14355, arXiv.org, revised Mar 2024.
    10. Sutcliffe, Charles, 2015. "Trading death: The implications of annuity replication for the annuity puzzle, arbitrage, speculation and portfolios," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 163-174.
    11. Liang, Xiaoqing & Young, Virginia R., 2023. "Annuitizing at a bounded, absolutely continuous rate to minimize the probability of lifetime ruin," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 80-96.
    12. Blake, David & Wright, Douglas & Zhang, Yumeng, 2014. "Age-dependent investing: Optimal funding and investment strategies in defined contribution pension plans when members are rational life cycle financial planners," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 105-124.
    13. Kaschützke, B. & Maurer, R., 2016. "Investing and Portfolio Allocation for Retirement," Handbook of the Economics of Population Aging, in: Piggott, John & Woodland, Alan (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Population Aging, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 0, pages 567-608, Elsevier.
    14. Joachim Inkmann & Paula Lopes & Alexander Michaelides, 2011. "How Deep Is the Annuity Market Participation Puzzle?," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 24(1), pages 279-319.
    15. Wiafe, Osei K. & Basu, Anup K. & Chen, John, 2017. "The effects of age pension on retirement drawdown choices," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 81-87.
    16. Thomas Bernhardt & Catherine Donnelly, 2019. "Modern tontine with bequest: innovation in pooled annuity products," Papers 1903.05990, arXiv.org.
    17. David Blake & Tom Boardman, 2014. "Spend More Today Safely: Using Behavioral Economics to Improve Retirement Expenditure Decisions With SPEEDOMETER Plans," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 17(1), pages 83-112, March.
    18. repec:hum:wpaper:sfb649dp2009-022 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Miloš Kopa & Vittorio Moriggia & Sebastiano Vitali, 2018. "Individual optimal pension allocation under stochastic dominance constraints," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 260(1), pages 255-291, January.
    20. Bernhardt, Thomas & Donnelly, Catherine, 2019. "Modern tontine with bequest: Innovation in pooled annuity products," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 168-188.
    21. Barbara Chambers & Ruth Walker & Jun Feng & Yuanyuan Gu, 2021. "The silver tsunami: an enquiry into the financial needs, preferences and behaviours of retirees," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(1), pages 645-687, March.
    22. Lin He & Zongxia Liang & Sheng Wang, 2022. "Modern Tontine with Transaction Costs," Papers 2209.09709, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2023.
    23. Sanders, E.A.T. & De Waegenaere, A.M.B. & Nijman, T.E., 2010. "When Can Insurers Offer Products That Dominate Delayed Old-Age Pension Benefit Claiming?," Other publications TiSEM ea3f9bbb-92ce-4dfe-a1fe-e, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    24. Blake, David & Boardman, Tom, 2010. "Spend more today: Using behavioural economics to improve retirement expenditure decisions," MPRA Paper 34234, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    25. Hans Fehr, 2009. "Computable Stochastic Equilibrium Models and Their Use in Pension- and Ageing Research," De Economist, Springer, vol. 157(4), pages 359-416, December.

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