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Financial Advice and Household Financial Portfolios

Author

Listed:
  • Sarah Brown

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Alessandro Bucciol

    (Department of Economics (University of Verona))

  • Alberto Montagnoli

    (University of Sheffiled)

  • Karl Taylor

    (University of Sheffield)

Abstract

We investigate the role of financial advice in shaping the composition of UK household portfolios. Our findings suggest that advice is associated with a reallocation of wealth away from real estate and towards bonds and stocks. Among the various reasons why households seek financial advice, "advice for investments" consistently has the largest effect, especially on the portfolio shares held in stocks (positively) and in real estate (negatively). With respect to the type of financial advisor, having a consultation with a stockbroker has a particularly large effect on the portfolio share in stocks. In addition, even free financial advice has a positive effect on the portfolio shares in bonds and stocks compared to not receiving advice. Finally, we explore the relationship between portfolio shares and risk, whilst accounting for the effects of financial advice. We find a positive association between the portfolio shares in bonds and stocks and the portfolio risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah Brown & Alessandro Bucciol & Alberto Montagnoli & Karl Taylor, 2020. "Financial Advice and Household Financial Portfolios," Working Papers 15/2020, University of Verona, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ver:wpaper:15/2020
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. 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.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial Advice; Financial Risk; Household Financial Portfolios;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance

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