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Is diversification always optimal?

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  • Humphrey, Jacquelyn E.
  • Benson, Karen L.
  • Low, Rand K.Y.
  • Lee, Wei-Lun

Abstract

Finance theory and recent literature suggest that investors should diversify their retirement savings across a number of funds. However, the Australian government encourages investors to consolidate retirement savings into just one fund. Using a number of optimization techniques, we investigate which of these two actions would result in the best outcome for investors in terms of risk and return. We find that in the majority of cases investors would be better off not diversifying their holdings; mainly because superannuation funds cannot be short sold. Consolidation therefore does appear to be the optimal strategy for the average superannuation investor.

Suggested Citation

  • Humphrey, Jacquelyn E. & Benson, Karen L. & Low, Rand K.Y. & Lee, Wei-Lun, 2015. "Is diversification always optimal?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(PB), pages 521-532.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:35:y:2015:i:pb:p:521-532
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2015.09.003
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    1. José Luis Miralles‐Quirós & María Mar Miralles‐Quirós & José Manuel Nogueira, 2019. "Diversification benefits of using exchange‐traded funds in compliance to the sustainable development goals," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 244-255, January.
    2. Moccia, Luigi & Laporte, Gilbert, 2016. "Improved models for technology choice in a transit corridor with fixed demand," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 245-270.
    3. Beatrice D. Simo-Kengne & Kofi A. Ababio & Jules Mba & Ur Koumba, 2018. "Behavioral portfolio selection and optimization: an application to international stocks," Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Springer;Swiss Society for Financial Market Research, vol. 32(3), pages 311-328, August.
    4. Hao Ji & Hao Wang & Brunero Liseo, 2018. "Portfolio Diversification Strategy Via Tail‐Dependence Clustering and ARMA‐GARCH Vine Copula Approach," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(3), pages 265-283, September.
    5. Andreas Mühlbacher & Thomas Guhr, 2018. "Extreme Portfolio Loss Correlations in Credit Risk," Risks, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-25, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Retirement funds; Superannuation; Diversification;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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