Why Does Mutual Fund Advertising Work? Some Complementary Evidence
Journal of Index Investing, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 55-60, Summer 2010
6 Pages Posted: 3 Jul 2010 Last revised: 6 Mar 2017
There are 2 versions of this paper
Why Does Mutual Fund Advertising Work? Some Complementary Evidence
Date Written: July 1, 2010
Abstract
The basic question that this article addresses is: Why does mutual fund advertising work? The summation of external evidence is compatible with evidence that greater mutual fund advertising attracts investors with below-average financial literacy who find the investment decision process overwhelming:
1. Investor levels of financial literacy predict differences in investment behavior.
2. Investors with below-average financial literacy are overwhelmed by information overload in the investment process and opt out.
3. Investors with below-average financial literacy make non- normative “revealed preference” choices that include passive investment, avoidance of investment complexity, and decisions based on limited experience.
4. Investors with below-average financial literacy are attracted to funds (increased flow) that come to their attention through greater fund advertising.
5. Investors with below-average financial literacy favor broker-sold funds, which underperform direct-sold funds even on a pre-distribution fee basis.
6. Broker-sold funds with larger front-end loads and distribution fees provide agency incentives for brokers to sell higher-cost and lower-performing funds for their own benefit.
7. Funds sold through selected superior financial advisors are to be favored over broker-sold funds due to higher standards of legal performance, higher quality and range of services, lower-cost and higher-performing funds, and “fee only” charges.
Keywords: mutual funds, advertising, financial literacy, information overload, revealed preferences, broker-sold funds, performance, distribution fees, agency, financial advisors, fee-only advisors
JEL Classification: G2, G23, G28
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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