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Shang (Sun) Shen to Chair Global Governance Panel at NPSA Annual Conference

Economic Insider Staff on October 29, 2025

By: Felicia Guo

This November, Princeton University scholar Shang (Sun) Shen will take the stage as Chair of the Global Governance Panel at the upcoming Northeastern Political Science Association (NPSA) Annual Conference, one of the most esteemed academic gatherings in North America. Known for her unique combination of dual expertise in law and political science, Shen represents a new generation of interdisciplinary scholars contributing to the future of global governance research.

Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Political Science at Princeton University, Shen’s work intersects the fields of international relations and law, focusing on how the United States negotiates and implements global agreements in security, economics, and technology. Her innovative research brings together quantitative methods and legal analysis, offering a level of empirical precision that is still relatively uncommon in traditional legal studies. Supported by Princeton’s Center for International Security Studies (CISS), her doctoral projects examine the dynamics of U.S. cooperation in key global sectors and the evolving role of federal courts in shaping foreign and immigration policy.

“Bringing data-driven methods into legal research helps us understand global decision-making in a more nuanced way,” said Shen in a recent interview. “Policy is not just about law or politics—it’s about how the two interact to shape real-world outcomes for nations and people.”

Before joining Princeton, Shen earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from William & Mary Law School, where she served as an Articles Editor for the Bill of Rights Journal, one of the top five constitutional law journals in the United States according to the Washington & Lee Law Journal Rankings. During her law studies, she published her own legal article on U.S. immigration policy, titled “Limited Protection: The Impact of Illegal Entry on Due Process Rights in Expedited Removal Proceedings,” contributing to the national discussion on the balance between due process and border enforcement.

Shang (Sun) Shen to Chair Global Governance Panel at NPSA Annual Conference

Photo Courtesy: Shang (Sun) Shen

Shen’s academic journey began at Cornell University, where she graduated with honors in Political Science in 2018. Her thesis on U.S.-China-Russia cooperation in counterterrorism and global security earned her the Lieutenant David Chrystall Award, presented annually to the student with the most outstanding contribution to international peace and diplomacy. Notably, she was the only Asian scholar to receive this distinction in her graduating year.

Over the past several years, Shen’s research has been presented at multiple national academic conferences, including the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) Annual Conference and the Law and Society Association Annual Meeting, where she has also served as a paper reviewer and discussant for multiple panels. She has also participated in the American Political Science Association (APSA) Annual Meeting. Her upcoming chairmanship at NPSA highlights her growing role not only as a researcher but also as a leader in the political science community.

As Chair of the Global Governance Panel, Shen will oversee a series of discussions on how emerging geopolitical shifts and technological developments are reshaping cooperation among nations. The panel is anticipated to cover topics ranging from internet regulation and climate governance to economic interdependence and global security frameworks.

“Today’s world demands interdisciplinary problem-solvers,” Shen explained. “International law and political science are no longer separate spheres—they must be integrated if we are to address challenges like cybersecurity, climate change, and human rights protection in an effective manner.”

Shang (Sun) Shen to Chair Global Governance Panel at NPSA Annual Conference

Photo Courtesy: Shang (Sun) Shen

Beyond research, Shen is known at Princeton for her teaching excellence. She has taught and served as Head Teaching Assistant for undergraduate courses such as Introduction to International Relations and U.S. Foreign Policy, leading teams of assistants and mentoring over 200 students. Her ability to connect complex theoretical models to real-world political outcomes has made her a respected figure among both faculty and students.

Shen’s contributions have also been recognized through multiple Princeton awards and fellowships, including the CISS Dissertation Fellowship, the Dean’s Fund for Scholarly Travel, and the Stafford Research Award.

Her work reflects a broader mission—to merge rigorous legal analysis with the practical realities of global politics. As she prepares to lead one of NPSA’s most noteworthy panels, Shen continues to embody the interdisciplinary spirit that defines the next generation of global governance scholars.

“Understanding governance today means thinking beyond borders,” Shen concluded. “It’s about recognizing the interconnectedness of law, politics, and humanity—and finding solutions that address them all.”

Financial Security Before Retirement: James “Jim” Bain’s Guidance

Economic Insider Staff on October 29, 2025

Retirement is one of the most significant transitions in a person’s life — a shift not just from work to leisure, but from one identity to another. Choosing when to retire can be both exciting and daunting. It requires balancing financial stability, personal health, emotional readiness, and lifestyle aspirations. For many, the question isn’t just “Can I afford to retire?” but rather “Am I ready to live my next chapter fully?”

In this article, explores critical factors that influence the timing of retirement — including financial preparedness, health and longevity, purpose and lifestyle goals, social and emotional considerations, psychological challenges, and practical timing strategies.

1. Financial Readiness: The Foundation of a Secure Retirement

For most people, financial security is the cornerstone of retirement planning. Deciding when to retire begins with determining when your savings and income sources can sustain your desired lifestyle over potentially 25–30 years or more.

James Bain considers preparing a realistic estimate of retirement expenses essential but quite difficult. This estimate depends on forecasting what you will do when you retire. Do you want to travel? How much do you want to do? Will you get bored unless you have many irons in the fire? Will you pick up new or different activities? How much will all these new items cost?  Jim recommends including in your estimate housing costs, healthcare, insurance, travel, hobbies, and everyday living expenses. He also suggests you attempt to forecast inflation, which can erode purchasing power over time. Many financial advisors recommend using 70–80% of pre-retirement income as a general guideline for maintaining your standard of living. However, this estimate or guideline can vary dramatically.

Jim Bain suggests that you include all income streams that will support you in retirement — such as Social Security or pension benefits, savings and investments, and part-time or freelance work. He notes that the long-standing rule of thumb suggests withdrawing 4% of your retirement portfolio each year, adjusted for inflation, to make your savings last. However, myriad matters affect this guideline, including market fluctuations, healthcare costs, and longevity.

Carrying significant debt into retirement can strain fixed income. Paying off mortgages, car loans, or high-interest credit cards before retiring greatly reduces financial stress. Maintaining a liquid emergency fund for unexpected expenses provides peace of mind. Unfortunately, such funds typically provide little return on investment. However, if you have long-term investments, you can suffer adverse consequences from selling them prematurely. You have to forecast the future and balance the loss of return against the ability to deal with unexpected expenses.

Even with solid financial plans, many people feel anxious about whether they truly have ‘enough.’ This worry is psychological, tied to the comfort of a regular paycheck. James advises discussing these concerns with a financial planner or counselor to help you build confidence in your analysis.

2. Health and Longevity: Balancing Time and Well-being

Jim notes that health plays a crucial role in retirement timing. Some people choose to retire early to enjoy travel and active pursuits while they are still physically able to do so. Others work longer to continue to earn income or to remain socially engaged through their employment.

If your job is physically demanding or stressful, retiring earlier may prevent burnout and allow you to focus on your well-being. On the other hand, work can provide mental stimulation and structure that supports cognitive health. Mr. Bain notes that in his experience, people with the financial wherewithal to retire early tend to remain at their jobs for these and other reasons. However, he states that few people at their deathbed say they wish they’d spent more time at the office.

Healthcare costs can create another major consideration that is hard to forecast. If leaving the workforce means losing employer-provided insurance, you have to plan to bridge coverage until you qualify for government programs, such as Medicare. Of course, if you’ve reached Medicare age, this is not an issue.

With people living longer than ever, retirees should plan for 25–30 years of post-work life. James “Jim” Bain, of course, sees this as an opportunity. However, he recognizes it also requires careful preparation to sustain a fulfilling lifestyle.

3. The Psychological Challenges of Determining When to Retire

Beyond the financial and logistical considerations, perhaps the most important aspect of deciding when to retire is psychological. Work provides not only income but also identity, community, structure, and self-worth. Letting go of that can be deeply challenging. Retirement is not only about ending a career but also about beginning a new and different chapter in your life. James Bain recommends giving it serious consideration because it is frequently the most underestimated aspect of this transition. Most people need to find purpose and identity outside of work. People considering retirement should think long and hard about this before they leave their employment.

For decades, many people have defined themselves by their careers — teacher, engineer, nurse, manager, entrepreneur. Retirement can feel like a loss of that identity. Without a clear sense of ‘who I am now,’ some retirees struggle with emptiness or loss of purpose. Preparing involves exploring new identities before retirement. Try visualizing yourself as a mentor, traveler, artist, or volunteer rather than by your current career title.

Leaving the workforce can also bring fears of irrelevance. The rapid pace of technology and societal change can heighten feelings of obsolescence. Remaining engaged through learning or mentoring can help to counter these emotions.

Many retirees experience a sense of loss after leaving full-time employment. They have lost their daily structure, interactions, and contributions. He also notes the sense that you are no longer a productive member of society because you are not performing meaningful work and earning income for it. Rather, you’re spending the money that you earned and saved during your working years. Before retiring, it is important to analyze what you will enjoy and that will bring meaning to your life, such as volunteering, mentoring, hobbies, or spending more time with family.

Consider and visualize what you want your days to look like. Do you envision traveling, gardening, studying, or starting a small business? Figuring out a clear lifestyle vision helps determine both financial and emotional readiness. Mr. Bain was fortunate in being able to gradually reduce his work time to test the waters of retirement. Others may be able to experiment with phased or ‘mini-retirements’ — taking extended breaks to test what retirement might feel like. Taking this route increases your confidence in determining when to retire.

Many envision retirement as endless leisure, but too much unstructured time can lead to dissatisfaction. Purposeful engagement — creative work, volunteering, or continued learning — fosters fulfillment and mental health.

An increasingly recognized way to ease psychological strain is through staged or phased retirement — gradually transitioning from full-time work to partial or flexible employment. Rather than a sudden withdrawal, individuals reduce hours, shift to consulting, or take on part-time roles. This preserves identity and routine while offering more freedom. It reduces anxiety tied to income loss and provides valuable time for emotional adjustment. Organizations that offer phased retirement benefits as well, retaining expertise while supporting employee well-being.

Ultimately, the question isn’t just ‘Can I retire?’ but ‘Am I emotionally ready to retire?’ Signs of readiness include excitement about post-retirement plans, comfort with identity beyond work, and confidence in adapting to change.

5. Social and Emotional Readiness: The Human Side of Retirement

Your social and emotional readiness resembles, but is different from, the psychological issues addressed above. Retirement doesn’t happen in isolation — it affects relationships and community ties. For couples, timing differences can alter income and routines. Open communication about goals helps avoid misunderstandings. Leaving work can also reduce daily social interaction, making it essential to maintain friendships and join new groups.

Retirement also reshapes relationships, especially for couples adjusting to shared routines. Communication and maintaining individual interests help ease tension.

Studies show retirees who stay socially connected report higher satisfaction and longer lives. Emotional adjustment takes time, and creating structure and purpose early helps smooth the transition.

Retirement adjustment can take one to three years. The shift from structured days to open time may initially feel freeing, then disorienting. James recommends establishing routines and engagement through exercise, social activities, or learning to restore balance.

6. Timing Strategies and Flexibility: Balancing your personal priorities

Retirement doesn’t need to be an all-or-nothing decision. Many people can ease into it gradually. Phased retirement — working part-time or consulting — provides continued income and engagement while allowing more freedom.

Retiring early offers more years of independence but requires greater savings and higher health costs. Delaying retirement can increase benefits and financial security, but may limit personal time. The right balance depends on health, goals, and priorities.

Keeping plans flexible allows for adaptation when health, family needs, or the economy change unexpectedly.

Conclusion

Choosing when to retire is not a single event but a process of aligning financial stability, health, purpose, social, and psychological readiness., You have to figure out what matters most for you and the others who will be affected by your decision. — security, freedom, contribution, or peace of mind — and crafting a plan that supports those values.

The best time to retire is when you have enough financial stability to feel secure, enough health and energy to enjoy life, and enough psychological resilience to embrace change. Addressing both the tangible and emotional dimensions of this decision allows retirement to become not an ending, but a rewarding new beginning.

Jonathan Amoia Shares How Advisors Can Stay Ahead of Market Shifts

Economic Insider Staff on October 29, 2025

In a financial landscape marked by constant volatility and accelerating change, wealth advisors are finding that agility and foresight are now as critical as technical expertise. The pressures of inflation, fluctuating interest rates, and shifting global capital flows have redefined what it means to manage client wealth effectively. Advisors today must balance analytical precision with strategic flexibility — anticipating market shifts before they disrupt portfolios.

The fundamentals of private wealth management remain rooted in trust, discipline, and diversification, yet the pace of change has introduced new challenges. Clients expect real-time insights and adaptive strategies, not static quarterly reports. To stay ahead, advisors must integrate technology, macroeconomic analysis, and behavioral finance into their advisory frameworks, offering both performance and perspective.

Over the past decade, the advisory profession has evolved into something closer to a blend of strategist, analyst, and educator. Advisors who once competed primarily on investment performance now differentiate themselves through communication, technological sophistication, and holistic planning. That transformation has created a new competitive standard in the industry — one in which anticipating change is not optional, but a core competency.

Technology has become one of the key tools for doing just that. Advanced analytics, AI-driven modeling, and real-time market data allow advisors to identify correlations, measure risk exposure, and spot early signals of macroeconomic shifts. By leveraging these technologies, firms can move beyond reactive strategies to proactive positioning. Advisors can now stress-test portfolios against multiple scenarios, analyze global liquidity flows, or model the potential impact of central bank policy decisions — all within minutes.

However, technology alone cannot replace sound judgment. Experienced advisors understand that both data and human behavior drive markets. Investor psychology often magnifies volatility, and emotional reactions can derail even the carefully crafted plans. The successful advisors are those who blend quantitative insight with empathy and communication — helping clients remain disciplined amid uncertainty. Whether markets are rising or falling, maintaining composure and clarity of purpose is what sustains long-term wealth creation.

Industry professionals such as Jonathan Amoia emphasize that ongoing education and professional development are crucial to staying relevant. Wealth management has always been a relationship business, but the relationships that endure are those grounded in credibility and evolving expertise. Continuous learning — through industry certifications, economic research, and collaboration with peers — enables advisors to stay ahead of regulatory shifts, tax changes, and emerging asset classes.

Diversification and tactical flexibility remain cornerstones of risk management, but modern wealth advisors are expanding the meaning of those terms. Beyond traditional equities and fixed income, advisors are increasingly incorporating alternative investments such as private credit, real estate, and infrastructure to hedge against volatility. Strategic allocation across uncorrelated assets enhances resilience, especially in an environment where inflation and monetary tightening can erode traditional portfolio performance.

Another factor shaping the future of wealth advisory is the growing emphasis on values-based investing. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are now central to many client conversations, particularly among younger investors seeking alignment between financial outcomes and personal principles. Advisors who can integrate ESG strategies without compromising performance are not only meeting client demand but also positioning themselves at the forefront of a generational shift in capital allocation.

Collaboration within the financial ecosystem is also deepening. Today’s leading advisors work closely with estate planners, tax professionals, and legal experts to deliver comprehensive wealth solutions. This multidisciplinary approach enables a full-picture strategy that anticipates how market changes ripple across different aspects of a client’s financial life. Such integration is increasingly expected by high-net-worth individuals who want cohesive, data-informed guidance rather than fragmented advice.

Looking ahead, market forecasts point to continued disruption — from shifts in monetary policy to the growing influence of artificial intelligence on business productivity and valuation. Advisors who maintain a global perspective and proactively identify secular trends — such as energy transitions, digital infrastructure growth, and demographic changes — will have the insight needed to capture long-term value.

Ultimately, staying ahead of market shifts is as much about mindset as it is about methodology. Advisors who remain intellectually curious, technologically adept, and client-centered will be well-positioned to adapt. In an environment where uncertainty is the only constant, foresight and flexibility will define the leaders of the next generation of wealth management.

 

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as financial advice, nor does it replace professional financial advice, investment advice, or any other type of advice. You should seek the advice of a qualified financial advisor or other professional before making any financial decisions.

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