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Determinants of Asset Allocation Strategies for Retirement Saving

Morrin, M., Broniarczyk, S. & Inman, J. J. (2008), Saving for Retirement: The Effects of Fund Assortment Size and Investor Knowledge on Asset Allocation Strategies, The Journal of Consumer Affairs, 42(2), 206-222.

Brief Description: We conducted a decision simulation among 211 adults whose task was to invest in a hypothetical 401(k) retirement plan. We varied the number of mutual funds (3 or 21) offered for investment and assessed investor knowledge with a self-report measure. The results indicate that less …

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Linking financial strain to marital instability: examining the roles of emotional distress and marital interation

 

Gudmunson, C., Beutler, I., Israelsen, C., McCoy, K. & Hill, J. (2007) Linking financial strain to marital instability: examining the roles of emotional distress and marital interaction.Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 28(3), 357-376.

Brief Description: This study investigates whether individual moods or couple interactions are stronger links between financial strain and thoughts of ending a marriage. It finds that both are important. Feelings of depression and hostility are experienced individually as a result of financial strain. In …

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Financial Education for Bankrupt Families

 

Thorne, D. & Porter, K. (2007) Financial education for bankrupt families: Attitudes and needs. Journal of Consumer Education 24, 15-27.

Brief Description: The study examines bankrupt families’ attitudes toward financial education courses and the expenses with which they are most likely to struggle after bankruptcy. Results reveal that a majority of respondents believed that a money or debt management course would have helped them avoid bankruptcy. However, respondents with college degrees, who were white, or who were older (especially 65 …

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Behavior Change Among Savings Program Participants

Loibl, C., Grinstein-Weiss, M., Zhan, M. & Red Bird, B. (2010). More than a penny saved: Long-term changes in behavior among savings program participants. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 44, (1): 98-126. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6606.2010.01159.x.

Brief Description: The study explored the long-term effectiveness of low-income individuals’ participation in a federally funded matched savings program. To collect data, a survey was mailed to former program participants in Ohio, and compared with the responses of a general low-income population sample. The results document that …

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Renters’ preparation for retirement

James, R. N., & Sharpe, D. L. (2007). Is time running out? Savings and investments of renters nearing retirement age. Financial Counseling and Planning, 18(2), 61-75.

Brief Description: This study explored how renters age 45-64 prepare for retirement without any home equity. Compared with otherwise similar homeowners, renters nearing retirement were less likely to contribute to retirement savings plans (e.g. 401(k)s and IRAs), invested less when they did contribute, and favored short-term convenience accounts (e.g., checking and savings) with …

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Financial Risk-taking Behavior

 

Grable, J. E., Britt, S. L. & Webb, F. J. (2008). Environmental and biopsychosocial profiling as a means for describing financial risk taking behavior. Financial Counseling and Planning, 19 (2), 3-18.

Brief Description: The study applied an intervention model of risky adolescent behavior to risky financial behaviors of adult money managers. The researchers explored the role of one’s level of affluence (referred to as the environmental profile) and his/her self-esteem and age (called the biopsychosocial profile) in financial risk-taking behavior. …

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Impact of Personal Finance Education

 

Peng, T.-C., Bartholomae, S., Fox, J. & Cravener, G. (2007). The impact of personal finance education delivered in high school and college courses. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 28(2), 265-284.

Brief Description: This study investigated the impacts of personal finance education delivered in high school and college. Outcomes of interest were investment knowledge and household savings rates measured years after the financial education was delivered. A web-based survey was taken by 1,039 alumni from a large Midwestern university. …

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Women in Business-owning Families

 

Philbrick, C. & Fitzgerald, M. (2007). Women in business-owning families: A comparison of roles, responsibilities and predictions of family functionality. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 28(4), 618-634.

Brief Description: This paper compares groups of women associated with family businesses in order to determine what factors predict how they function. Using the Sustainable Family Business (SFB) model, family and business characteristics are studied, as well as areas of interface between family and business systems. Results of this study indicate …

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Teachers’ Preparation for Teaching Personal Finance

 

Way, W. L. & Holden, K.C. (2009). Teachers’ background and capacity to teach personal finance: Results of a national study. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning Education, 20(2), 64-78.

Brief Description: An increasing number of state mandates have expanded financial education at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels. An online survey of 504 grade K-12 teachers was conducted to determine teachers’ background and capacity to teach personal finance. Results indicated that teachers recognized the importance of teaching personal finance …

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Wills, Trusts and Charitable Estate Planning

 

James, R.N. (2009). Wills, trusts, and charitable estate planning: An analysis of document effectiveness using panel data. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning Education, 20(1), 3-14.

Brief Description: This study compared pre-death charitable estate plans with post-death distributions using a large national data set with over 26,000 individuals. It found that most respondents with charitable estate plans ultimately generated no charitable estate gift after death. The likelihood of making charitable gifts was significantly higher for those who funded an …