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The Morningstar Model of U.S. Retirement Outcomes

The Morningstar Model of U.S. Retirement Outcomes is a complex simulation model that enables our researchers to study retirement readiness across the United States. The model helps them to predict the effects of policy, product design, behavioral changes, and other variables on retirement readiness. The results can be broken down by age, wage, family status, race and ethnicity, industry, and more. 

About the Model

Our model not only sets a new standard in retirement research, but we’ll also be able to identify actionable insights for policymakers and plan sponsors to improve product design, all with the goal of helping more Americans reach the retirements they want.”

Spencer Look

Associate Director of Retirement Studies

The Retirement Savings for Americans Act: Increased Access, Worse Retirement Outcomes Overall

The recently introduced Retirement Savings for Americans Act (RSAA) proposes the creation of a national retirement savings plan available to all Americans, including those that do not have access to defined contribution plans through their employer. Full and part-time workers without access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan would be automatically enrolled in a retirement account at a 3% savings rate.  In this analysis, our researchers examine the potential outcomes of the implementation of this legislation on the retirement savings of Americans.

Learn More

Explore more information about the model here. 

Morningstar Model of U.S. Retirement Outcomes FAQ

Morningstar Model of U.S. Retirement Outcomes Technical Appendix

Beyond the Retirement Crisis Headlines Infographic

The Evolution of Retirement-Income Adequacy Under ERISA Infographic

The Retirement Savings for Americans Act: Increased Access, Worse Retirement Outcomes Overall Infographic

Read the Papers

Read the publications based on the model here.

Beyond the Retirement Crisis Headlines: Why Employer-Sponsored Plans Are the Key to Retirement Adequacy for Today's Workers

The Evolution of Retirement-Income Adequacy Under ERISA With a Focus on Defined-Contribution Plans: A Review of the Status Quo, Counterfactual Evidence, and an Analysis of Changes for the Future

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