February 2018

A Framework for Analyzing Defined Benefit Pension Insurance: The Survivor Benefit Plan for Veterans

By William W. Jennings (U.S. Air Force Academy - Department of Management), Jeff Merrell (University of Colorado at Boulder - Leeds School of Business) Thomas O'Malley (U.S. Air Force Academy - Department of Management) & Brian Payne (US Air Force Academy) Millions of defined benefit pensioners must select a pension insurance method. We present a framework for making this decision within the context of US military veterans’ Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP). Federal government subsidies generate a positive expected net payout...