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Choosing two business degrees versus choosing one: What does it tell about mutual fund managers' investment behavior?

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  • Andreu, Laura
  • Puetz, Alexander

Abstract

We analyze what a second business degree reveals about the investment behavior of mutual fund managers. Specifically, we compare the investment risk and style of managers with both a CFA designation and an MBA degree to managers with only one of these qualifications. We document that managers with both degrees take fewer risks, follow less extreme investment styles, and achieve less extreme performance outcomes. Our results are consistent with the explanation that managers with a certain personal attitude that makes them take fewer risks and invest more conventionally choose to gain both qualifications. We rule out several alternative explanations: our results are not driven by the respective contents of the MBA and the CFA program, by the manager's skill, or by the fund family's investment policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreu, Laura & Puetz, Alexander, 2017. "Choosing two business degrees versus choosing one: What does it tell about mutual fund managers' investment behavior?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 138-146.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:75:y:2017:i:c:p:138-146
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2017.02.014
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    Cited by:

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    2. Andreu, Laura & Serrano, Miguel & Vicente, Luis, 2019. "Efficiency of mutual fund managers: A slacks-based manager efficiency index," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 273(3), pages 1180-1193.
    3. Gehde-Trapp, Monika & Klingler, Linda, 2022. "The effect of sentiment on institutional investors: A gender analysis," CFR Working Papers 22-08, University of Cologne, Centre for Financial Research (CFR).
    4. Lin, Jia-Hui & Yen, Meng-Feng & Hsieh, Wei-Cheng, 2023. "Do manager characteristics matter in equity mutual fund performance? New evidence based on the double-adjusted alpha," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    5. Otero-González, Luis & Durán-Santomil, Pablo, 2021. "Is quantitative and qualitative information relevant for choosing mutual funds?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 476-488.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mutual funds; Investment behavior; Manager education; MBA; CFA;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors

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