Research & Publications
Applied research at the intersection of retirement planning, artificial intelligence, and behavioral finance. My work bridges academic rigor with practical applications for financial services firms, advisors, and consumers.
Research Agenda
Current Focus Areas
AI in Financial Planning
How can generative AI improve financial outcomes? I study AI adoption among advisors and consumers, evaluate AI-generated financial advice quality, and design AI-powered interventions that move people from financial literacy to financial capability: the confidence and ability to act.
Retirement Satisfaction & Well-Being
What actually drives a satisfying retirement? Moving beyond portfolio balances to examine the psychological, social, and behavioral dimensions of retirement readiness. My next book will explore the key drivers of retirement satisfaction based on original research.
Investor Behavior
Risk-tolerance questionnaires do a poor job of predicting what investors actually do. I study how personality, emotions, socialization, and “just in time” education shape portfolio decisions, particularly during periods of market volatility.
Industry Partnerships
Applied Research for Financial Services
I partner with leading financial services firms to produce applied research that informs product development, advisor education, and consumer engagement strategies. Current and recent partners include:
Research partnership opportunities include: sponsored whitepapers and industry reports, consumer and advisor survey design, behavioral segmentation analysis, AI applications research, and custom retirement planning studies.
Discuss a Research PartnershipPublications
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Ludwig, E. T. (2026). Generative AI in public-sector retirement plans: Behavioral segmentation beyond demographics. Financial Planning Review, 9, e70024. doi
Ludwig, E. & Bennetts, C. (2025). Assessing retirement income literacy among consumers and financial advisors: Validating a scale and examining professional designations. Financial Planning Review. doi
Bennetts, C. & Ludwig, E. (2025). The desire for AI advice in retirement plans: A latent class analysis. Financial Planning Research Journal. doi
Bennetts, C. & Ludwig, E. (2025). Echoes of bias: An analysis of ChatGPT in financial planner-client dialogues. Financial Planning Review. doi
Ludwig, E. (2025). Sentiment-based option pricing model for meme coins. Finance Research Letters. doi
Rollins-Koons, A., Lawson, D., McCoy, M., Wu, J., Anderson, J., & Ludwig, E. (2024). Exploring the relationships between virtual client meetings, financial anxiety, and trust in financial planning. Financial Planning Research Journal, 10(1). doi
Ludwig, E., Heckman, S., & McCoy, M. (2023). The influence of risk, financial literacy, and trust on financial advice-seeking behavior in a cross-racial examination. Journal of Financial Planning, 36(2), 68-84.
Ludwig, E. & Bennetts, C. (2023). Streamlining financial planning with ChatGPT: A collaborative approach between technology and human expertise. Journal of Financial Planning, 36(6), 54-60.
Ludwig, E. (2023). The psychology of investor behavior: Stock market expectations and portfolio decisions during market volatility. Doctoral dissertation, Kansas State University. link
Ludwig, E., Bennetts, C., Van Orman, T., Lurtz, M., & Kothakota, M. (2023). How investors behaved in a non-financial crisis: Impacts of COVID-19. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning. link
Publications Under Review
Antonoudi, E. & Ludwig, E. (2025). Technology-enabled financial help-seeking: Evidence of AI and financial planners on retirement saving behavior. Financial Planning Review.
Ludwig, E. & Seay, M. (2025). The psychology of investor behavior: Personality, emotions, and market expectations during COVID-19 volatility. Financial Services Review.
Rollins-Koons, A., McCoy, M., Bennetts, C., & Ludwig, E. (2025). Student loans and financial well-being: A comparison of private and public sector employees with sociodemographic insights. Journal of Consumer Affairs.
Ludwig, E., Bennetts, C., & Seay, M. (2025). Measurement of stock reallocation investor behavior accounting for survey dates in longitudinal surveys. Finance Research Letters.
Industry Reports & Whitepapers
Ludwig, E. & Bennetts, C. (2025). Strategic tax deferral: Navigating time, type, tax, and timing investment decisions. Nationwide Retirement Institute. link
Ludwig, E., Bennetts, C., & Liu, Z. (2025). Artificial intelligence in public workforce: An in-depth study on employee perspectives and retirement planning implications. Mission Square Research Institute. link
Liu, Z., Ludwig, E., Rollins-Koons, A., & Bennetts, C. (2025). Student loans and financial well-being: How employer-provided resources can elevate the impact of student debt across sectors. Mission Square Research Institute. link
Ludwig, E. (2025). Investment-only variable annuities for high income earners. JP Morgan Retirement Center. link
Ludwig, E. (2025). Keep retirees focused on the long view when markets falter. Financial Planning Magazine. link
Rollins-Koons, A., Ludwig, E., Bennetts, C., Liu, Z., Sanford, P., Liss-Levinson, R., & Young, G. (2024). Financial wellbeing of women in government: Indicators, contributing factors and workforce considerations. Mission Square Research Institute. link
Rollins-Koons, A., Lawson, D., Ludwig, E., McCoy, M., Wu, J., & Anderson, J. (2024). Exploration of the use of financial planning technology in practice. FP Canada. link
Speaking
Conference Presentations & Invited Lectures
Selected presentations at academic conferences, industry events, and Fortune 500 financial services firms.
Book Eric to speak at your event →
2025
How AI is changing and improving the retirement planning industry. Horizons Retirement Conference, Coronado Island, CA.
The value of financial advisors in client relationships. Horizons Retirement Conference, Coronado Island, CA.
Strengthening the 3-legged stool of retirement. Horizons Retirement Conference, Coronado Island, CA.
GenAI and financial planning: What really drives adoption and perceptions of success? DCIIA Academic Forum, Minneapolis, MN.
AI, financial planners, or both? Evidence on reducing financial stress. FPA National Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
Generative AI in retirement plans: Behavioral segmentation beyond demographics. CFP Board Connections Conference, Chicago, IL.
The psychology of investor behavior: Personality, emotions, and market expectations. CFP Board Connections Conference, Chicago, IL.
Who wants AI advice for retirement? Behavioral insights for financial counselors. AFCPE Annual Conference, Scottsdale, AZ.
Closing the advice gap: How AI and behavioral segmentation can democratize retirement planning. Conference for African American Financial Planners, Atlanta, GA.
Blueprints for the future: How financial advisors can win with AI. Silicon Valley NAIFA Conference, Los Angeles, CA.
An analysis of tax-deferred investing. Nationwide National Sales Meeting, Dallas, TX.
Tax-deferred investing for high-net-worth investors. Nationwide National Webinar.
How much can I really withdraw? Navigating safe retirement spending. Retirement Resource Center.
Confidence counts: How advisors boost retirement readiness. Retirement Resource Center.
Generative AI and financial planning: Aligning methods with research questions. Kansas State University, invited talk.
2024
Retirement income literacy study: Key findings for industry and academia. Keynote, FPA National Conference, Columbus, OH.
Assessing retirement income literacy: What is the value of financial professional designations. CFP Board Connections Conference, Washington, D.C.
Effectively using generative AI to improve financial planning efficiency. Kitces.com Webinar (2,500 attendees).
Navigating the future: AI’s role in education, ethics, and financial planning. ACCI Annual Conference, Milwaukee, WI.
AI applications in financial planning and education. NAPFA National Conference, Fort Worth, TX.
The role of AI in retirement and longevity planning. Wealth Management EDGE Conference, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
AI in action: ChatGPT for financial planning. Keynote, FPA Greater Indiana, Indianapolis, IN.
Artificial intelligence expert panel. Military and Veteran Center Summit, Philadelphia, PA.
Panel discussion. Nasdaq Trade Talk, New York, NY.
Integrating financial counseling into advisory practices. AFCPE Symposium, Columbus, OH.
Harnessing the power of AI in financial planning. Financial Experts Network.
2021-2023
Exploring the relationships between virtual client meetings, financial anxiety, and trust. CFP Board ARC, Washington, D.C. Best Paper Award.
Unveiling retirement income insights: A gender perspective. FA Magazine Webinar.
Cognitive and psychological factors and the investment behavior of older adults during COVID-19. CFP Board ARC, Washington, D.C.
A cross-racial examination of the antecedents to financial help-seeking. ACCI, Clearwater Beach, FL.
The role of personality on investor behavior during market uncertainty. AFCPE Symposium, Orlando, FL.
Investor behavior in a non-financial crisis: Impacts of COVID-19. AFCPE Symposium (2021).
The effect of risk perception on stock market participation. AFCPE Symposium (2021).
Financial advice: Who makes the choice, client or planner? Kansas State University Doctoral Conference (2021).
Awards & Recognition
AFCPE Outstanding Research to Practice Award, sponsored by NEFE
Consumer Movement Archives Applied Consumer Economics Award, ACCI
WealthManagement.com “Wealthie” Award, Best Industry Research Provider
Excellence in Research Award, The American College of Financial Services
Finalist, ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Thought Leadership Award
CFP Board Best Paper in Financial Planning Practice
Editorial & Professional Service
Guest Editor, Financial Planning Review: Special Call for Papers on Leveraging FinTech and AI to Improve Financial Wellness (2025)
Peer Reviewer: Financial Planning Review, Financial Planning Research Journal, Financial Services Review, Journal of Personal Finance, Journal of Financial Planning
Advisory Board, Jump AI Research and Insights Lab (2025-)
Chair, Risk Management Advisory Council (2024-)
Chair, Membership Committee, American Council of Consumer Interests (2024-2027)
Collaborate
Interested in research partnerships, co-authored studies, or sponsored industry reports? I work with financial services firms on applied research that drives product innovation and advisor education.