Michael W Cooper is a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual.
There are a lot of life expectancy and longevity calculators out there. So I decided to do a systematic test to find the best. I found a willing friend and had him use a few of the top longevity calculators available. Throughout the process, we made note of his projected life expectancy according to the calculator, the experience of the test itself, and what recommendations were given, if any.
Overall, results varied from my friend's life expectancy being anywhere between 84 to 96.2 years. Of course, he liked the idea of his mid-nineties the best, but which calculator actually provided the most accurate results?
RealAge
On RealAge, one of the most comprehensive longevity calculators available, my friend scored a 'biological age' 11.7 years younger than his chronological age. Add that to the average life expectancy of about 78 for an overall deduced life expectancy of 89.7 years. Not bad.
The RealAge test took about 20 minutes to complete and additional pieces of information like cholesterol levels, blood pressure ratings, and even vitamin contents were requested (but not required) for a more detailed report. My friend said he had to pay a lot of attention to questions and read the test carefully, which is perhaps less fun but suggests that the results are based on more data. The results page gave detailed and helpful suggestions for maintaining health and continuing to lower your 'RealAge.'
The 'Vitality Compass' Longevity Calculator
This longevity calculator on the Blue Zones website was the favorite of my tester. It gave him a life expectancy of 96.2 years, the highest of all test results. The online test took only 4 minutes to complete and he didn't need any additional medical information like cholesterol levels that wasn't readily on hand.
The test has a nice visual display and works great with updated, fresh graphics. The data gathered is based on a book titled 'Blue Zones' that focuses on research from four areas of the world where people tend to live longer and healthier than expected. In addition to the longevity calculator, the site offers a support community and programs to help you make lasting changes.
Living to 100's Longevity Calculator
'Living to 100' is a book and a website by Dr. Thomas Perls. The accompanying online longevity calculator is based on research that he did in the New England Centenarian Study. My test user scored a life expectancy of 84 years and could improve his projections by 12.5 years if he followed certain recommendations. Overall, this longevity calculator took 5 minutes to complete. The report was good, but it lacked resources to help make changes after getting the results.
The Northwestern Mutual Longevity Game
This 'longevity game' is sponsored by Northwestern Mutual, a large financial services and life insurance company that knows a little bit about calculating life expectancy. The game took about 2 minutes to play. It had fun graphics that changed the look of a person as the user's avatar as each question was answered.
In the end, the calculator gave my friend a life expectancy of 90. There were little to no helpful suggestions, explanations, or unique recommendations. Though fun, some of the questions were unclear, and my friend said he had to guess a bit at the best choice.
The Bottom Line
While these tests are based on real numbers, a lot of assumptions are made. Focus not on the actual number of years, but on understanding which of your habits are healthy (and you should keep) and which ones you should change.
After playing around with some online calculators that spit out a personalized estimate of how long I can expect to live, I face this conundrum: If I don't build up my retirement stash to support me through the very ripe old age of at least 95, my next best option might be to take up recreational drugs and increase my alcohol intake.Perhaps that's not the intended message of Northwestern Mutual Life's Lifespan Calculator, but after honestly answering the calc's 12 questions and being told I have a good shot at being around at 95, I was a tad curious how living it up a bit (more) might changes things. Voila, my life expectancy drops to a mere 80 years if I decide to go the alcoholic-druggie route.
The Longevity Game Pdf Northwestern
For now I think I'll just try and put a little more aside in my SEP-IRA.
Uncomfortably Numb(er)
After a wholly unscientific survey of these calculators (methodology: Google Longevity Calculator and test a few) my favorite is the Northwestern Mutual Longevity Game even though I scored a longer life when I plugged my stats into the AARP Vitality Compass (96.3 years old, with a promise/threat that I could add two more years to that if I 'optimize my lifestyle') and MoneyCentral's calculator. (102 years old. Yikes!).
It's just that the Northwestern Mutual calc has the added allure of a wonderfully cheesy graphic of a person whose attire and accoutrement undergo a Colorforms-esque evolution depending on your answers. My moderate drinking scored my avatar a water bottle in my hand; when I changed it to drinking five or more drinks in one sitting (reclining?) my water bottle was replaced with a wine bottle and bloodshot eyes. The bright red sedan bearing down on me when asked about my driving record was a bit off-putting, but hey it is a life-insurance company we're dealing with here.
For a more studious estimate, take a spin through the Life Calculator ginned up by two Wharton academics and an assistant prof at Singapore Management University.
The Longevity Game Northwestern Mutual
If your number gives you retirement pause, be sure to check out these tips for maximizing your 401(k).
Northwestern Mutual Longevity
Northwestern Insurance Longevity Game
Image via Flickr user thenickster, CC 2.0
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