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How Cognitive Ability and Financial Literacy Shape the Demand for Financial Advice at Older Ages

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  • Hugh Hoikwang Kim
  • Raimond Maurer
  • Olivia S. Mitchell

Abstract

We investigate how cognitive ability and financial literacy shape older Americans’ demand for financial advice using an experimental module in the 2016 Health and Retirement Study. We show that cognitive ability and financial literacy strongly improve the quality, but not the quantity, of financial advice sought. Most importantly, the financially literate and more cognitively able tend to seek financial help from professionals rather than family members, and they are less likely to accept so-called ‘free’ financial advice that may entail conflicts of interest. Nevertheless, those with higher cognitive function also tend to distrust financial advisors, leading them to eschew their services.

Suggested Citation

  • Hugh Hoikwang Kim & Raimond Maurer & Olivia S. Mitchell, 2019. "How Cognitive Ability and Financial Literacy Shape the Demand for Financial Advice at Older Ages," NBER Working Papers 25750, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:25750
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    2. John Ameriks & Andrew Caplin & Minjoon Lee & Matthew D. Shapiro & Christopher Tonetti, 2023. "Cognitive Decline, Limited Awareness, Imperfect Agency, and Financial Well-Being," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 5(1), pages 125-140, March.
    3. Martin-Bassols, Nicolau, 2024. "Risky and non-risky financial investments and cognition," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    4. Paul Gerrans & Anthony Asher & Joanne Kaa Earl, 2022. "Cognitive functioning, financial literacy, and judgment in older age," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(S1), pages 1637-1674, April.
    5. Declan French, 2023. "From financial wealth shocks to ill‐health: Allostatic load and overload," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(4), pages 939-952, April.
    6. Lynn, Peter & Fumagalli, Laura & Muñoz-Bugarin, Jair, 2021. "Investigating the role of debt advice on borrowers’ well-being. An encouragement study on a new sample of over-indebted people in Britain," ISER Working Paper Series 2021-08, Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    7. Ziying Yang & Jie Gao & Du Yu, 2024. "Cognition ability, financial advice seeking, and investment performance: New evidence from China," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 24(1), pages 53-82, March.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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