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Overconfidence and Financial Risk Tolerance in Older Age

Author

Listed:
  • Colleen C Frank
  • Gary R Mottola
  • Meiru Chen
  • Lei Yu
  • Patricia A Boyle
  • Gregory R Samanez-Larkin
  • Kendra L Seaman

Abstract

ObjectivesExcessive financial risk-taking in older age can have harmful consequences as opportunities to recover lost wealth are limited. Understanding financial risk-taking in older age is important for identifying vulnerabilities and developing interventions to empower aging investors to make wise financial choices. In this paper, we explore how overconfidence in financial knowledge affects financial risk-taking among older adults.MethodsWe examine this research question in older adults aged 58–101 (N = 1,242) using data from the Rush Memory and Aging Project (MAP).ResultsAfter controlling for demographics, overconfidence was associated with self-reported financial risk tolerance such that those who were more overconfident reported tolerating more financial risks. Moreover, this relationship emerged for both healthy older adults and those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. However, overconfidence did not predict performance on a behavioral measure of risk aversion.DiscussionThe present results suggest that overconfidence may partially contribute to financial risk-taking in older adults, regardless of cognitive status. Thus, interventions aimed at calibrating confidence to actual levels of financial knowledge could be an impactful target for intervention.

Suggested Citation

  • Colleen C Frank & Gary R Mottola & Meiru Chen & Lei Yu & Patricia A Boyle & Gregory R Samanez-Larkin & Kendra L Seaman, 2025. "Overconfidence and Financial Risk Tolerance in Older Age," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 80(6), pages 101-117.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:80:y:2025:i:6:p:101-117.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbaf032
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