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On the sub-optimality cost of immediate annuitization in DC pension funds

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  • Marina Di Giacinto
  • Elena Vigna

Abstract

We consider the position of a member of a defined contribution (DC) pension scheme having the possibility of taking programmed withdrawals at retirement. According to this option, she can defer annuitization of her fund to a propitious future time, that can be found to be optimal according to some criteria. This option, that adds remarkable flexibility in the choice of pension benefits, is not available in many countries, where immediate annuitization is compulsory at retirement. In this paper, we address and try to answer the questions: “Is immediate annuitization optimal? If it is not, what is the cost to be paid by the retiree obliged to annuitize at retirement?”. In order to do this, we consider the model by Gerrard et al. in Quant Finance, ( 2011 ) and extend it in two different ways. In the first extension, we prove a theorem that provides necessary and sufficient conditions for immediate annuitization being always optimal. The not surprising result is that compulsory immediate annuitization turns out to be sub-optimal. We then quantify the extent of sub-optimality, by defining the sub-optimality cost as the loss of expected present value of consumption from retirement to death and measuring it in many typical situations. We find that it varies in relative terms between 6 and 40%, depending on the risk aversion of the member. In the second extension, we make extensive numerical investigations of the model and seek the optimal annuitization time. We find that the optimal annuitization time depends on personal factors such as the retiree’s risk aversion and her subjective perception of remaining lifetime. It also depends on the financial market, via the Sharpe ratio of the risky asset. Optimal annuitization should occur a few years after retirement with high risk aversion, low Sharpe ratio and/or short remaining lifetime, and many years after retirement with low risk aversion, high Sharpe ratio and/or long remaining lifetime. This paper supports the availability of programmed withdrawals as an option to retirees of DC pension schemes, by giving insight into the extent of loss in wealth suffered by a retiree who cannot choose programmed withdrawals, but is obliged to annuitize immediately on retirement. Copyright Springer-Verlag 2012

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  • Marina Di Giacinto & Elena Vigna, 2012. "On the sub-optimality cost of immediate annuitization in DC pension funds," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 20(3), pages 497-527, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:cejnor:v:20:y:2012:i:3:p:497-527
    DOI: 10.1007/s10100-011-0221-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marina Di Giacinto & Salvatore Federico & Fausto Gozzi, 2011. "Pension funds with a minimum guarantee: a stochastic control approach," Finance and Stochastics, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 297-342, June.
    2. Cairns, Andrew J.G. & Blake, David & Dowd, Kevin, 2006. "Stochastic lifestyling: Optimal dynamic asset allocation for defined contribution pension plans," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 843-877, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lambregts, Timo R. & Schut, Frederik T., 2020. "Displaced, disliked and misunderstood: A systematic review of the reasons for low uptake of long-term care insurance and life annuities," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 17(C).
    2. Yao, Haixiang & Yang, Zhou & Chen, Ping, 2013. "Markowitz’s mean–variance defined contribution pension fund management under inflation: A continuous-time model," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(3), pages 851-863.
    3. Di Giacinto, Marina & Federico, Salvatore & Gozzi, Fausto & Vigna, Elena, 2014. "Income drawdown option with minimum guarantee," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 234(3), pages 610-624.
    4. 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.
    5. Hainaut, Donatien & Deelstra, Griselda, 2014. "Optimal timing for annuitization, based on jump diffusion fund and stochastic mortality," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 124-146.
    6. Wu, Huiling & Zhang, Ling & Chen, Hua, 2015. "Nash equilibrium strategies for a defined contribution pension management," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 202-214.
    7. Zhang, Ling & Zhang, Hao & Yao, Haixiang, 2018. "Optimal investment management for a defined contribution pension fund under imperfect information," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 210-224.
    8. Thomas Bernhardt & Catherine Donnelly, 2019. "Modern tontine with bequest: innovation in pooled annuity products," Papers 1903.05990, arXiv.org.
    9. Francesco Menoncin & Elena Vigna, 2013. "Mean-variance target-based optimisation in DC plan with stochastic interest rate," Carlo Alberto Notebooks 337, Collegio Carlo Alberto.

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