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Tax uncertainty and retirement savings diversification

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  • Brown, David C.
  • Cederburg, Scott
  • O’Doherty, Michael S.

Abstract

We investigate the optimal savings decisions for investors with access to pre-tax (traditional) and post-tax (Roth) versions of tax-advantaged retirement accounts. The model features a progressive tax schedule and uncertainty over future tax rates. Traditional accounts are valuable for hedging retirement account performance and managing current income near tax-bracket cutoffs, whereas Roth accounts allow investors to mitigate uncertainty over future tax schedules. The optimal asset location policy for most households involves diversifying between traditional and Roth vehicles. Contrary to conventional advice, the substantial economic benefits from Roth investments are not limited to investors with low current income.

Suggested Citation

  • Brown, David C. & Cederburg, Scott & O’Doherty, Michael S., 2017. "Tax uncertainty and retirement savings diversification," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(3), pages 689-712.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:126:y:2017:i:3:p:689-712
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2017.10.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. M. Martin Boyer & Philippe d’Astous & Pierre-Carl Michaud, 2019. "Tax-Sheltered Retirement Accounts: Can Financial Education Improve Decisions?," Cahiers de recherche 1902, Chaire de recherche Industrielle Alliance sur les enjeux économiques des changements démographiques.
    2. Mattia Landoni & Stephen P. Zeldes, 2020. "Should the Government be Paying Investment Fees on $3 Trillion of Tax-Deferred Retirement Assets?," NBER Working Papers 26700, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Cookson, J. Anthony, 2018. "When saving is gambling," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(1), pages 24-45.
    4. Sanjiv R. Das & Daniel Ostrov & Aviva Casanova & Anand Radhakrishnan & Deep Srivastav, 2021. "Combining Investment and Tax Strategies for Optimizing Lifetime Solvency under Uncertain Returns and Mortality," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-25, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tax uncertainty; Asset location; Retirement savings; IRA; Roth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions

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