Research project · 2024–2027

Financial vulnerability in retirement

Preventing financial vulnerability during retirement: cumulative risk factors and impactful interventions

RoleCo-Principal Investigator

Funding€375,000

FundersNetspar & Instituut GAK

Period2024–2027

About the project

Cumulative risks, practical interventions

This project combines register data, surveys, qualitative research and intervention design to understand and prevent financial vulnerability in later life.

It examines financial vulnerability beyond pension replacement rates, considering expenditures, subjective financial well-being, stress and resilience. The research studies how life-course risks and financial, functional and digital skills combine, particularly among women, migrants, and develops targeted interventions together with pension-sector and societal partners.

Visit the Netspar project page

Knowledge exchange

Outreach and outputs

Workshops, public presentations and publications connect the project’s research to pension professionals, policymakers and wider audiences.

29 September 2026Upcoming webinar

Beyond Income: Life Course and Non-Economic Predictors of Financial Well-Being in Retirement

Olaf Simonse and Verena Seibel present new findings on how life-course experiences and non-economic factors shape financial well-being after retirement.

27 August 2026Conference presentation

Life Course and Other Non-Economic Predictors of Financial Well-Being in Retirement

Olaf Simonse and Verena Seibel presented the study at the 24th ESPAnet Annual Conference in Lisbon, in the stream on pensions in the 21st century.

19 August 2026Netspar industry paper

De kloof overbruggen: risico- en bufferfactoren die de toereikendheid van pensioenen in Nederland voorspellen

This Netspar Industry Paper 2026-32 brings together evidence on financial vulnerability from 91 studies, expert interviews, a practitioner focus group and interviews with retirees.

16 March 2026International presentation

Mind the Gap: Risk and Resilience Factors Predicting Pension Adequacy in the Netherlands

Olaf Simonse presented the project’s findings at the Finnish Centre for Pensions’ Pension Research Forum on pensions in transition.

March 2026Project workshop

Financial Well-Being among Pensioners

At this Utrecht workshop, the Financial Vulnerability group presented the results of their first quantitative study on risk and buffer factors among retirees. In addition, the scientific partners Katja Möhring, Adèle Atkinson and Louise Overton shared their research on financial well-being, unpaid care and pension wealth. Migration researchers Sara Marcora, Jelle Lössbroek and Koen Veldman discussed migrant retirement preparation. All discussions were used to inform the project’s qualitative research on migrant women, financial well-being and social support which will be conducted in a second step in the year 2026/2027.

9 October 2025Conference presentation

Mind the Gap: Risk and Resilience Factors Predicting Pension Adequacy in the Netherlands

The project and its industry-paper research were presented at Netspar Pension Day by Olaf Simonse and Verena Seibel.

4 September 2025Webinar

Op weg naar pensioen: hoe bouw je financiële veerkracht op?

Olaf Simonse presented research conducted with Verena Seibel in a Netspar After-lunch Webinar on building financial resilience on the road to retirement.

25 March 2025Podcast

Hoe vergroten we de financiële weerbaarheid van mensen op weg naar hun oude dag?

Olaf Simonse and Tarik Uçar joined Saskia ter Ellen for a Netspar podcast about strengthening people’s financial resilience before retirement.

Collaboration

People and partners

Project team

Verena Seibel · Utrecht University
Olaf Simonse · Knowledge Centre for Psychology and Economic Behavior
Esther van Leeuwen · Leiden University
Vera Hilgevoord · Knowledge Centre for Psychology and Economic Behavior
Mara Yerkes · Utrecht University
Wilco van Dijk · Knowledge Centre for Psychology and Economic Behavior

Scientific partners

Adèle Atkinson · University of Birmingham
Louise Overton · University of Birmingham
Katja Möhring · University of Bamberg

Societal partners

Muzus APG Achmea Wijzer in Geldzaken ABP Pensioenfonds Schoonmaak Raad voor Arbeidsverhoudingen Schoonmaak- en Glazenwassersbranche (RAS)