Mutual Fund Flows and Investor Returns: An Empirical Examination of Fund Investor Timing Ability
36 Pages Posted: 20 Jan 2007 Last revised: 10 Aug 2009
Abstract
We examine the timing ability of mutual fund investors using cash flow data at the individual fund level. Over 1991-2004 equity fund investor timing decisions reduce fund investor average returns by 1.56% annually. Underperformance due to poor timing is greater in load funds and funds with relatively large risk-adjusted returns. In particular, the magnitude of investor underperformance due to poor timing largely offsets the risk-adjusted alpha gains offered by good-performing funds. Investors in both actively managed funds and index funds exhibit poor investment timing. We demonstrate that our empirical results are consistent with investor return-chasing behavior.
Keywords: Mutual fund performance, fund cash flows, investor timing, fund clienteles
JEL Classification: G11, G20
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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