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How financial literacy shapes the demand for financial advice at older ages

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  • Kim, Hugh H.
  • Maurer, Raimond
  • Mitchell, Olivia S.

Abstract

We investigate how financial literacy shapes older Americans’ demand for financial advice. Using an experimental module fielded in the Health and Retirement Study, we show that financial literacy strongly improves the quality but not the quantity of financial advice sought. In particular, more financially literate people seek financial help from professionals. This effect is more pronounced among older people and those with more wealth and more complex financial positions. Our analysis result implies that financial literacy and financial advisory services are complementary with, rather than substitutes for, each other.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim, Hugh H. & Maurer, Raimond & Mitchell, Olivia S., 2021. "How financial literacy shapes the demand for financial advice at older ages," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joecag:v:20:y:2021:i:c:s2212828x21000220
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeoa.2021.100329
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    Cited by:

    1. Felix Holzmeister & Martin Holmén & Michael Kirchler & Matthias Stefan & Erik Wengström, 2023. "Delegation Decisions in Finance," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(8), pages 4828-4844, August.
    2. Mazzoli, Camilla & Ferretti, Riccardo & Filotto, Umberto, 2024. "Financial literacy and financial advice seeking: Does product specificity matter?," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 98-110.
    3. Ye, Zihan & Zou, Xiaopeng & Post, Thomas & Mo, Weiqiao & Yang, Qianqian, 2022. "Too old to plan? Age identity and financial planning among the older population of China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    4. Liu, Bofan & Lu, Bin, 2023. "Can financial literacy be a substitute for financial advisers? Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    5. Yuanyuan Guo & Can Liu & Hao Liu & Ke Chen & Dan He, 2023. "Financial Literacy, Borrowing Behavior and Rural Households’ Income: Evidence from the Collective Forest Area, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-21, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial advice; Financial literacy; Aging; Financial management;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets
    • G53 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Financial Literacy
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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