The risk of outliving one's assets. In other words, the risk of running out of money during retirement. In most countries, average life expectancy has increased dramatically over the past several decades. Longer lifespans are somewhat of a mixed blessing because of the financial burden associated with more years of retirement. Individuals, insurance companies and governments are exposed to the financial pressures created by the need to finance increasing longevity. Longevity risk is a key challenge for many societies around the world.
Veritat is a start-up seeking to leverage process and technology innovation to scale a business model that is typically saddled with persistent and burdensome variable costs. If successful, Veritat will be able to deliver premium services to a mass audience.
As a registered investment advisor (RIA) that adheres to the fiduciary standard, Veritat provides comprehensive financial planning services through financial advisors who are employed by the company and share a common sense of mission.
We spoke with Dr. Kent Smetters who is the President of Veritat and a professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Annuity Digest: How did Veritat come into existence?
Dr. Kent Smetters:...
Brandon Colby, MD, is a world leader in the field of...
David Stipp has written about science, medicine, the environment and biotech since 1982 for The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Salon, Science and other publications. He led Fortune’s science and medical coverage from 1995 to 2005 as a senior writer, and from 1982 to 1995 covered science and medicine as a staff reporter at The Wall Street Journal. Over the past decade he has written extensively on the science of aging. In 1998 he won a National Association of Science Writers’ award for best magazine article, and in 1993-4 served as a Knight Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
David’s most recent book, The Youth...
In a basic sense, information theory measures the level of surprise in a message.
A highly informative message will come as a complete surprise and tell you something about which you had no previous knowledge.
Sounds pretty good, right—of what use is it to be told what you already know? Well, there are actually cases where information is not so welcome.
