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Investing over the life cycle with long-run labor income risk

Author

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  • Luca Benzoni
  • Olena Chyruk

Abstract

Many financial advisors and much of the academic literature often argue that young people should place most of their savings in stocks. In contrast, a significant fraction of U.S. households do not hold stocks. Investors typically hold very little in stocks when they are young, progressively increase their holdings as they age, and decrease their exposure to stock market risk when they approach retirement. The authors show how long-run labor income risk helps explain this evidence. Moreover, they discuss the effect of long-run labor income risk on the valuation of pension plan obligations, their funding, and the allocation of pension assets across different investment classes.

Suggested Citation

  • Luca Benzoni & Olena Chyruk, 2009. "Investing over the life cycle with long-run labor income risk," Economic Perspectives, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, vol. 33(Q III), pages 29-43.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedhep:y:2009:i:qiii:p:29-43:n:v.33no.3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fabio C. Bagliano & Carolina Fugazza & Giovanna Nicodano, 2014. "Optimal Life-Cycle Portfolios for Heterogeneous Workers," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 18(6), pages 2283-2323.
    2. Mehlkopf, R.J., 2011. "Risk sharing with the unborn," Other publications TiSEM fe8a8df6-455f-4624-af10-9, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    3. Luca Benzoni & Olena Chyruk, 2013. "Human Capital and Long-Run Labor Income Risk," Working Paper Series WP-2013-16, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
    4. Luca Benzon & Olena Chyruk, 2015. "The Value and Risk of Human Capital," Annual Review of Financial Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 7(1), pages 179-200, December.
    5. Yongsung Chang & Jay H. Hong & Marios Karabarbounis, 2018. "Labor Market Uncertainty and Portfolio Choice Puzzles," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 10(2), pages 222-262, April.
    6. Yulin Liu & Min Zhang, 2020. "Is household registration system responsible for the limited participation of stock market in China?," Review of Behavioral Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(3), pages 332-350, July.

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