Are Retirement Planning Tools Substitutes or Complements to Financial Capability?

Abstract

We conducted a randomized controlled trial to understand how a web-based retirement saving calculator affects workers’ retirement-savings decisions. In both conditions, the calculator projected workers’ retirement income goal. In the treatment condition, it additionally projected retirement income based on defined-contribution savings, prominently displayed the gap between projected goal and actual retirement income, and allowed users to interactively explore how alternative, future contribution choices would affect the gap. The treatment increased aver- age annual retirement contributions by $174 (2.3%). However, effects were larger for those with greater financial knowledge, suggesting this type of tool complements, rather than substitutes for, underlying financial capability.

Keywords: retirement planning, retirement saving, exponential-growth bias, present bias, financial literacy, financial capability