Centre for Retirement Incomes and Financial Education Research (CRIFER)

Australians make a range of important and complex financial decisions; dealing with the weekly family budget to assessing the adequacy of their retirement savings. Superannuation savings has emerged as a dominant feature of the Australian financial market with Australians given the responsibility for accumulating adequate resources for retirement. At the same time, Australia is moving to an older age profile which makes success in both overall retirement savings system design and individual decision making all the more important.

CRIFER researchers have more than ten years research experience in the field, evidenced by numerous publications in international journals and funding from a range of partners. Though based within the Faculty of Business and Law, CRIFER is multi-disciplinary and it recognises the importance of both improving knowledge and facilitating behavioural change. The researchers’ backgrounds in finance, psychology and economics reflect this.

CRIFER’s research projects are externally funded through competitive grants as well as through commissioned research. CRIFER has extensive experience in completing projects through successful collaboration with industry partners.

CRIFER's areas of research and expertise:

  • Superannuation and pensions.
  • Financial education.
  • Modelling investment choice behaviours.
  • Investment strategy within retirement savings.
  • Assessing financial literacy and financial wellbeing.
  • Behavioural finance.
  • The role of financial advisors in individual investment decisions.

Research opportunities:

  • Member investment choices before, at and during retirement.
  • Managing longevity risk.
  • Measurements of financial literacy, financial wellbeing and investment decision making engagement.
  • The role of financial advisors in helping to facilitate investment decisions.
  • Financial decision making.
Centre for Retirement Incomes and Financial Education Research