SKK GSB Prof. Youngju Nielsen has published a new book, The Unbeatable Rules of Pension Investing, in which she explains how individuals can build a stable stream of income through a well-designed investment structure rather than by relying on vague savings plans or chasing high returns.

Prof. Nielsen is an investment expert with 15 years’ experience on Wall Street, where she worked at asset management firms and global investment banks. Prof. Nielsen currently teaches finance courses dealing with investment management and pension funds.

Contextualizing her approach, Prof. Nielsen notes: “In countries such as the United States and Norway, people do not worry about their lives after retirement in the same way Koreans do, fearing that they may not have sufficient retirement savings. In Korea, many people either have no retirement pension plan or have their retirement assets effectively locked into bank deposits, leaving them trapped in a poorly designed system.”

Prof. Nielsen's book advocates moving beyond conventional stock-centered investment to building an investment system designed to remain resilient even amid market volatility. The book guides readers to assess factors such as time to retirement, spending patterns, and income stability, to develop a pension strategy tailored to their circumstances.

Practical guidance includes building a portfolio with two investment products—an exchange-traded fund (ETF) and a target-date fund (TDF)—and applying rebalancing principles to maintain stability through market fluctuations. The central premise is that a well-designed pension investment strategy can provide a “lifelong paycheck” without needing to study complex charts or accumulate substantial initial capital.

Professor Nielsen emphasizes accessibility throughout life: “Anyone can benefit from this book, from young professionals in their twenties to people in their fifties who feel anxious about preparing for retirement. Instead of waiting for the perfect time or until you are perfectly prepared, you need to set a direction and start building the right structure now.”

Prof. Nielsen will meet readers at a publication celebration on July 30.