“Infographics can help potentially vulnerable investors make better decisions.” European investment funds have been including infographics in their mandatory information documents since 2012. Research shows that such visual depictions of the differences between major investment funds can help consumers with low financial literacy and little investment experience to significantly reduce avoidable fees. This effect is absent among retail investors with investment experience, although the…

Interview with Jan Kabátek (University of Melbourne) Pension systems in Western countries are under pressure and in many cases, individual savings are becoming more important. However, there is often still a considerable gap between what people need and what they actually save. “Financial education can have a positive effect on saving behavior. Which interventions are the most suitable, however, has only rarely been tested”,…

More freedom of choice, but not everybody avails themselves of the options to the same extent In the Netherlands, people who have a right to publicly funded nursing home care can choose to receive a personal budget (PGB) or a complete or modular home package (VPT or MPT). These arrangements increase the sense of freedom of care in a self-chosen setting: 20% of PGB…

“Long-term nursing home care constitutes a considerable financial risk for the middle class” One in five older people in the Netherlands will need nursing home care during their lifetime. Users must pay a portion of the cost themselves, as determined by their income- and wealth-dependent co-payment. This co-payment constitutes a considerable financial risk for middle-class seniors who need long-term nursing home care. For this…

“Letters with fear appeal are effective in increasing the basic knowledge of the pension system” The social sustainability of a new pension contract depends on its communication. It is therefore important to gain insight into the extent of a person’s pension awareness. Pension literacy is low. About 60% of people think, for example, that state pension contributions are partly invested and nearly a third…

“How technology can improve – rather than replace – human interaction within pension services” With the upcoming pension reforms, it is important that pension participants become well informed about their pension situation and the choices they have. Personal interaction between pension provider and participant – via email, call center or chat – plays an important role in this. In contact with participants, managing negative…

“Striking a balance between rising premiums and genetic discrimination is a regulatory dilemma” The precision of genetic tests is increasing fast, as is the commercial interest in offering con-sumers genetic tests to predict their lifetime risk of developing medical conditions. Consu-mers could use such genetic information to their advantage when they purchase insurance, which could lead to rising premiums. If insurers would underwrite genetic…

As of September 1, 2020, Marike Knoef has been appointed director of Netspar. It concerns a part-time appointment. In addition, Marike will remain a professor in Leiden. Marike succeeds Casper van Ewijk, who will step down as director and member of the management as of September. Casper retires and remains connected to Netspar as a researcher. As a result of this upcoming change of…

Interview Jeff Brown (University of Illinois) Do you want to include all your pension savings in one go, or purchase an annuity that guarantees you a lifelong benefit? In the Netherlands this is not an issue, but in the United States people are confronted with this choice. What lessons can be learned? “The US social security pension provides an inexpensive source of lifelong income….

“Responding to personal motives helps keep the elderly productive for society” Productivity of the elderly involves more than just labor participation. Many 55- to 85-year-olds in the Netherlands undertake various paid and unpaid activities, that produce value to others. As age progresses, their motives for staying active also change. Financial and self-oriented (personal) motives become less important as people get older. In addition to…