The capital accumulation ratio as an indicator of retirement adequacy

The relationship between meeting the Capital Accumulation Ratio Guideline and retirement adequacy was investigated. About 63% of the households had a consistent relationship between meeting the 25% ratio guideline and being adequately prepared for retirement, with 46% of households both meeting the 25% ratio guideline and being prepared for retirement and 17% not meeting the guideline and not being adequately prepared for retirement. However, 37% of households did not have a consistent relationship. Meeting the 25% ratio guideline does not appear to be an accurate indicator of retirement adequacy. The 25% guideline was a better indicator than the 50% guideline.Includes bibliographical references

Factors related to meeting the capital accumulation ratio guideline

The capital accumulation ratio, investment assets divided by net worth, has been proposed as a useful indicator of financial health. Various experts recommend a minimum value of 25% to 50% for the ratio. When certificates of deposit are not counted as investment assets, 56% of U.S. households meet the 25% guideline and only 40% meet the 50% guideline. In a multivariate logistic regression, education, income, number of years until retirement, overspending, and financial risk tolerance are positively related to meeting the guidelines.Includes bibliographical references

College Student Debt and Anticipated Repayment Difficulty

This study analyzes factors associated with anticipated difficulty with repayment of debt accumulated during college using a basic model of credit risk that includes socialization processes influencing college student financial decisions. The empirical analysis uses data from the 2010 Ohio Student Financial Wellness Study. Results provide evidence of male overconfidence in financial decision making, as males are less likely than females to predict repayment difficulties. Socialization process variables, including financial management practices, financial parenting communication, and expected economic returns from education, are strongly associated with anticipated debt repayment difficulty. Inclusion of these process variables in the model results in loss of explanatory power of many of the traditional individual success variables, such as grade point average, and graduation plans

Effect of saving motives and horizon on saving behaviors

The purpose of this research is to explore saving motives and saving horizon using a large, nationally representative dataset, the Survey of Consumer Finances. The framework is based on prospect theory, in which consumption and saving decisions are based on a reference point rather than on lifetime income. Prospect theory also posits that individuals construct various mental accounts, thereby allowing for households to have multiple saving motives. Since prospect theory does not assume that saving decisions are based on lifetime income, saving horizons are allowed to vary. The emergency and retirement saving motives are found to significantly increase the likelihood of saving regularly. Longer saving horizons are also found to have a highly significant effect on the likelihood of saving, while poor health is shown to have a significantly negative effect on the likelihood of saving. The results show that the saving motives held by households differ by saving horizon, but the exact relationships are unclear. Further research on the link between saving motives, saving horizon, and saving behaviors is needed. It is important for financial professionals and educators to consider a household's saving goals, saving horizon, and health status when making recommendations or developing financial plans.Saving goals Household behavior