Cognitive Ability and the Stock Reallocations of Retirees during the Great Recession

Retirees are increasingly responsible for managing their retirement savings. The ability to manage these assets efficiently can have an important impact on retirement well-being. Lower levels of cognitive ability in old age can reduce an investor's ability to control emotional responses to a lo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of consumer affairs 2015-06, Vol.49 (2), p.356-375
Main Authors: BROWNING, CHRIS, FINKE, MICHAEL
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asset management
Assets
Cognitive ability
Company business management
Company investment
Economic conditions
Great Recession
Intellect
Intelligence (Psychology)
Intelligence levels
Investment management
Investments
Management
Markets
Old age
Psychological aspects
Psychological research
Recessions
Retirees
Retirement
Retirement benefits
Saving
Savings bonds
Stocks
Studies
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Summary:Retirees are increasingly responsible for managing their retirement savings. The ability to manage these assets efficiently can have an important impact on retirement well-being. Lower levels of cognitive ability in old age can reduce an investor's ability to control emotional responses to a loss. Greater sensitivity to loss may increase preferences for safety following a market decline, resulting in allocations away from stocks that are associated with long-term underperformance. We investigate whether cognitive ability is related to stock reallocations among retirees during the Great Recession. Using the Health and Retirement Study, we find that cognitive ability is negatively related to allocations away from stock. Compared to those with the lowest levels of cognitive ability, respondents with higher cognitive ability are 40% less likely to reduce their stock allocation by 50% or more. These results suggest that the quality of investment decisions in old age may be compromised by cognitive decline.
ISSN:0022-0078
1745-6606
DOI:10.1111/joca.12065