Older Households’ Goals and Resources Throughout Retirement

Retirement outcomes often result from activities prior to retirement, thus we begin by considering
the retirement decision. New survey data document several factors correlated with feeling forced
to retire. Next, we use the Health and Retirement Study to consider US households’ wealth ahead
of and through retirement, controlling for age, education, financial literacy, marital history, labor
force experiences, health, social insurance participation, estimated longevity, bequest preferences,
planning horizons, and sense of well-being. This chapter contributes insights into how households’
goals and resources lead to healthy aging and successful retirement. Controlling for circumstances,
we identify preferences that relate to better outcomes.