Sustainable Retirement: A Look At Consumer Desires

This paper examines the findings of the research project, 'Retirement Savings: Drivers and Desires', commissioned by the Investment and Financial Services Association Ltd (IFSA) in 2001. The paper investigates retirement savings decision-making and retirement income product stream choice. This paper presents a quantitative analysis of questionnaire data relating to decision-making and product stream choice and discusses these issues in the context of established research findings about retirement income. The paper consists of five sections. The first is a brief review of the 'Drivers and Desires' research project conducted in 2001. An important theme to emerge from the initial project was that participants reported a high level of risk aversion and a strong desire to obtain the publicly funded age pension. Based on the findings of the initial project, the remaining sections of this paper focuses on consumer preferences, particularly relating to risk aversion and demand for the age pension. The second section focuses on a specific issue emanating from the initial project, specifically the market for annuities. The third section considers retirement income streams in terms of risks to investors. The fourth section carries out a quantitative analysis of consumer preferences toward the identified risks in previous sections, and specifically considers various trade-offs in the decision-making process. The fifth section outlines various policy alternatives and issues for future consideration.