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Supporting decision-making in retirement planning: Do diagrams on Pension Benefit Statements help?

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  • McGowan, Féidhlim P.
  • Lunn, Peter D.

Abstract

This paper investigates whether exposure to explanatory diagrams can affect a major financial decision. In a controlled experiment, participants were given Pension Benefit Statements with or without one or two diagrams, before answering incentivised questions that measured recall, comprehension and choice of contribution rate. The diagrams had at best a marginal influence on recall or comprehension. Nevertheless, a diagram relating contributions to income projections prompted more participants to advocate higher contributions, while both diagrams influenced the rationale participants gave for decisions. The implication is that although pension products remain hard to understand, diagrams may alter decisions by reinforcing relevant causal thinking.

Suggested Citation

  • McGowan, Féidhlim P. & Lunn, Peter D., 2020. "Supporting decision-making in retirement planning: Do diagrams on Pension Benefit Statements help?," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(3), pages 323-343, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jpenef:v:19:y:2020:i:3:p:323-343_3
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    Cited by:

    1. Christos I. Giannikos & Efstathia D. Korkou, 2023. "Gender and Risk-Taking in the Building of U.S. Retirement Wealth," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 51(4), pages 259-274, December.
    2. Ioannis Petrakis & Georgios A. Panos, 2025. "Pension Policy and Personal Finance: Defined-Contribution Plans and Retirement Strategies in the United Kingdom," Working Papers 2025_06, Business School - Economics, University of Glasgow.

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