Dr. Gaobo Pang, Ph.D., CFA, is a distinguished financial economist and investment strategist currently serving at TIAA, where he spearheads initiatives in research, analytics, and innovation to develop expert-guided, technology-enabled planning and investment solutions.

Prior to his tenure at TIAA, Dr. Pang served as Head of Quantitative Strategy at Smart USA, a global retirement technology provider. In this role, he supervised quantitative ideation and strategies in technology-enabled solutions for lifelong financial planning and investment management, led methodologies and algorithms for optimization, and built prototypes for software and platform innovations. His earlier experience includes serving as a Senior Vice President at Northern Trust Asset Management, where he led advanced analytics and developed optimal strategies within the life cycle framework, with a special focus on behavioral finance.

Dr. Pang's research contributions are notable, particularly in the realm of retirement income strategies. He co-authored a study with economist Mark Warshawsky, supported by the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), which found that combining systematic withdrawals with annuities can lead to better retirement income outcomes than the traditional 4% withdrawal rule. This research has influenced discussions on retirement planning, emphasizing the value of annuities in providing stable income streams.

In recognition of his scholarly work, Dr. Pang received the Best Article Award for his piece in the "Risk Management and Insurance Review" and was a finalist for the TIAA Paul A. Samuelson Award for Outstanding Scholarly Writing on Lifelong Financial Security.