The Company You Keep: Investment Adviser Clientele and Mutual Fund Performance

64 Pages Posted: 21 Nov 2017 Last revised: 8 May 2020

See all articles by William Beggs

William Beggs

Knauss School of Business, University of San Diego

Date Written: May 7, 2020

Abstract

This study examines how the composition of an investment adviser’s client base (identified via Form ADV filings) relates to the performance of its mutual funds. Investment advisers catering to institutional clients realize statistically and economically superior risk-adjusted mutual fund performance relative to retail-oriented advisers. Subsequent tests identify the channel(s) responsible for the relationship. The evidence is consistent with both a causal, governance mechanism (i.e., Evans and Fahlenbrach 2012) as well as inefficiencies stemming from the costly search mechanism of the Gârleanu and Pedersen (2018) model for asset management. The results suggest that institutional clients can identify better performing investment managers, particularly in market segments where retail mutual fund investors face higher search costs.

Keywords: Investment advisers, mutual funds, institutional investors, Form ADV

JEL Classification: G11, G23

Suggested Citation

Beggs, William, The Company You Keep: Investment Adviser Clientele and Mutual Fund Performance (May 7, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3070608 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3070608

William Beggs (Contact Author)

Knauss School of Business, University of San Diego ( email )

5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
United States

HOME PAGE: http://wcbeggs.com

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