The Intended Prioritized Selling of the Nest Egg by US Baby Boomers during Retirement

This paper examines the prioritized selling of the nest egg by baby boomers during their retirement years. To this end, a written questionnaire was mailed to 2500 randomly selected United States adults born between 1946 and 1964. Potential respondentswere asked financial planning questions and also requested to list their main concerns and the hobbies they intend to pursue during retirement. The most noteworthy findings from this study indicated that future retirees expect to sell their International investments relatively quickly while selling their 401(k) comparatively last. Several prominent authors have concentrated on thepre-retirement approach, or the saving and investment phase of asset accumulation. However, only a limited amount of research has been conducted on baby boomers financial perceptions of life during retirement. Countless asset withdrawal studies have used complex Monte Carlo computer simulations to determine a safe percentage rate subtracted from the retirement nest egg each year and still maintain a long term comfortable lifestyle. This study brings into the financial planning discussion the human part of the equation which includes future retirees’ perceptions, opinions, attitudes and intentions. The importance of this study is the reporting of baby boomers’ future selling intentions of the nest egg. Knowledge of these selling intentions will assist the financial community prepare for the retiring of 77 million adults.