Impact of Family Structure on Aspects of Retirement: A Collection of Essays

Published April 16, 2026

Authors

Syed Danish Ali, CSPA
Sathiya Livingston
Stefanos Orfanos, FSA, Ph.D.

Introduction

The Society of Actuaries Aging and Retirement Strategic Research Program issued a call for essays to explore the impact of family structure on retirement. The objective was to gather a variety of perspectives and experiences as to how different family structures may impact retirement planning, financial arrangements and risks that may be encountered in retirement. A primary goal of this collection is to spur thoughts for future research and set the stage for upcoming efforts.

Two essays from all submissions were chosen for awards based on their creativity, originality, and promotion of further thought in this area:

Suggested Citation

Ali, Syed Danish. Beyond Going Nuclear: How Family Structure Shapes Retirement. Society of Actuaries Research Institute, April 2026. https://www.soa.org/resources/research-reports/2026/family-structure-retirement-essays/

Orfanos, Stefanos. The New Math of Retirement: Four Modern Dilemmas. Society of Actuaries Research Institute, April 2026. https://www.soa.org/resources/research-reports/2026/family-structure-retirement-essays/

Livingston, Sathiya. Struggles of Single-Person Households in a Family-Centric System. Society of Actuaries Research Institute, April 2026. https://www.soa.org/resources/research-reports/2026/family-structure-retirement-essays/

Ali, Syed Danish, Livingston, Sathiya, and Orfanos, Stefanos. Impact of Family Structure on Aspects of Retirement: A Collection of Essays. Society of Actuaries Research Institute, April 2026. https://www.soa.org/resources/research-reports/2026/family-structure-retirement-essays

Acknowledgements

The SOA Research Institute Aging & Retirement Strategic Research Program thanks the Project Oversight Group (POG) for their careful review and judging of the submitted essays. Any views and ideas expressed in the essays are the authors’ alone may not reflect the POG’s views and ideas nor those of their employers, the authors’ employers, the Society of Actuaries, the Society of Actuaries Research Institute, nor Society of Actuaries members.

Sam Baker, FSA
Carol Bogosian, ASA
Tim Geddes, FSA, EA, MAAA, FCA
Andrea Sellars, FSA, MAAA

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