Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2005
Abstract
Reliance on mutual funds is vast and continues expanding with more than half of all U.S. households collectively investing $7 trillion in fund assets. During the 1990s, frequently encountered shareholder confusion prompted SEC mandated Plain English disclosure revision to clarify risks and costs. Despite comprehensive changes in 1998, consumers continue investing billions in consistently underperforming high fee funds pushing 2004 fees to nearly $68 billion. Two competing causal theories from the literature center on consumer rationality. Either disclosure of critical selection attributes is transparent and consumers behave irrationally, or rational consumers are not given information necessary for advantageous behavior. Isolating what is causing consumers to behave self detrimentally was the principal goal of this research. Using a post-test only control group design experiment, control group participants relying on current disclosure allocated assets between one of four illustrated funds and the S&P 500. Treatment group participants completed the same task viewing identical fund characteristics with revised disclosure designed to increase transparency of critical selection attributes. Carefully considered and straightforward remedies offered pragmatic solutions that successfully corrected disclosure deficiencies. Findings showed that collective adverse presentation and framing effects in current disclosure negatively influenced selection behavior. Treatment group members were able to recognize unfavorable returns and high fees allowing them to better allocate their resources. Inadequate disclosure of critical selection attributes is responsible dysfunctional behavior. Without fully transparent disclosure of counterproductive fees and their adverse consequences, collective detrimental consequences will compromise personal financial welfare as millions of fund dependent consumers approaching retirement see their assets prematurely exhausted.
Keywords
investments, mutual funds
Rights
© The Author(s). Kelvin Smith Library provides access for non-commercial, personal, or research use only. All other use, including but not limited to commercial or scholarly reproductions, redistribution, publication or transmission, whether by electronic means or otherwise, without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
Department/Center
Design & Innovation
Recommended Citation
Walker, Gary A., "Subtle Effects - Significant Consequences: An Examination of Presentation and Framing Effect Conseqences on Mutual Fund Selection Behavior" (2005). Student Scholarship. 412.
https://commons.case.edu/studentworks/412