Equity Holdings of Australian Baby Boomers- Comparing Lifecycle Phases

Abstract

This study aims to quantify the role of equity holdings in the asset portfolios of baby boomers over the accumulation and consolidation life cycle phases, and characteristics of baby boomer households that hold equities. The results did not confirm the hypothesis that baby boomer households have increased direct equity ownership in the consolidation phase and it is likely that the global financial crisis (GFC) reduced baby boomer household investment in equities. It may be of comfort to policy makers that baby boomer households are not at peak levels of equity market volatility exposure in this important pre-retirement consolidation phase.