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

Hugh Hoikwang Kim, Raimond Maurer and Olivia Mitchell

No 25750, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

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.

JEL-codes: D14 G11 G41 J26 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-age, nep-exp and nep-fle
Note: AG
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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