Answer Quickly: How Much Do You Think You'll Get from Social Security?

Abstract:     
This year, one in four new retirees will discover that their largest retirement income source falls 28 percent or more below their expectations. But that asset is not a recession-battered 401(k) account. It is Social Security. To understand why, answer quickly: How much do you think your Social Security benefit will be? If you do not know, you are in good company. Due to the complexity of Social Security's benefit formula, a worryingly large proportion of Americans have no idea what their Social Security benefit will be until the first check arrives. This 'predictability risk' is just as costly as the market risk associated with 401(k) plans. Simplifying Social Security benefits should be a priority when reform is addressed.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 5

Keywords: social security, social security reform, retirement income

JEL Classification: H55, J26

Accepted Paper Series