Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T22:23:54.820Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Regulating Commission-Based Financial Advice: Evidence from a Natural Experiment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 August 2022

Stanislav Sokolinski*
Affiliation:
Rutgers Business School – Newark and New Brunswick, Department of Finance & Economics [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Do limitations on commissions paid to financial advisers reduce prices of financial products and stimulate investment? I examine these questions by estimating the causal effects of regulating commissions for mutual fund distribution. I exploit the unique institutional setting in Israel and the 2013 policy change when the government reduced commissions differently for different fund types. The reform led to a major decline in fund expense ratios and a consequent increase in fund flows. Funds with price-sensitive investors experienced 35% larger inflows. I interpret these results as investor responses to price competition fostered by a reduction in distribution costs.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Michael G. Foster School of Business, University of Washington

Footnotes

For helpful comments, I thank an anonymous referee, Jenna Anders, Malcolm Baker, Azi Ben-Rephael, Nittai Bergman, Kirill Borusyak, Jennifer Conrad (the editor), Serdar Dinc, Anastassia Fedyk, Robin Greenwood, Oliver Hart, James Hodson, Eugene Kandel, Owen Lamont, Josh Lerner, Evgeny Mugerman, Darius Palia, Thomas Powers, Michael Reher, Andrei Shleifer, Tanya Sokolinski, Jeremy Stein, and Yishay Yafeh, as well as participants at the 2021 American Finance Association Annual Meeting, and seminars at Harvard University and Rutgers University.

References

Anagol, S.; Cole, S.; and Sarkar, S.. “Understanding the Advice of Commissions-motivated Agents: Evidence From the Indian Life Insurance Market.” Review of Economics and Statistics, 99 (2017a), 115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anagol, S.; Marisetty, V.; Sane, R.; and Venugopal, B.. “On the Impact of Regulating Commissions: Evidence From the Indian Mutual Funds Market.” World Bank Economic Review, 31 (2017b), 241270.Google Scholar
Angrist, J. D., and Pischke, J.-S.. Mostly Harmless Econometrics: An Empiricist’s Companion. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barber, B. M.; Odean, T.; and Zheng, L.. “Out of Sight, Out of Mind: The Effects of Expenses on Mutual Fund Flows.” Journal of Business, 78 (2005), 20952119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ben Naim, G., and Sokolinski, S.. “What Does Compensation of Portfolio Managers Tell Us about Mutual Fund Industry? Evidence from Israeli Tax Records.” Working Paper, Harvard University (2017).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ben-Rephael, A.; Kandel, S.; and Wohl, A.. “Measuring Investor Sentiment with Mutual Fund Flows.” Journal of Financial Economics, 104 (2012), 363382.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bergstresser, D.; Chalmers, J.; and Tufano, P.. “Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Brokers in the Mutual Fund Industry.” Review of Financial Studies, 22 (2009), 41294156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bertrand, M.; Duflo, E.; and Mullainathan, S.. “How Much Should We Trust Differences-in-Differences Estimates?Quarterly Journal of Economics, 119 (2004), 249275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bhattacharya, V.; Illanes, G.; and Padi, M.. “Fiduciary Duty and the Market for Financial Advice.” NBER Working Paper No. 25861 (2020).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boyson, N. “The Worst of Both Worlds? Dual-Registered Investment Advisers.” Working Paper, Northeastern University (2019).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chalmers, J., and Reuter, J.. “Is Conflicted Investment Advice Better than no Advice?Journal of Financial Economics, 138 (2020), 366387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Choi, J. J.; Laibson, D.; and Madrian, B. C.. “Why Does the Law of One Price Fail? An Experiment on Index Mutual Funds.” Review of Financial Studies, 23 (2009), 14051432.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christoffersen, S.; Evans, R.; and Musto, D.. “What do Consumers Fund Flows Maximize? Evidence from Their Brokers Incentives.” Journal of Finance, 68 (2013), 201235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cookson, G.; Jenkinson, T.; Jones, H.; and Martinez, J. V.. “Best Buys and Own Brands: Investment Platforms Recommendations of Mutual Funds.” Review of Financial Studies, 34 (2021), 227263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coval, J., and Stafford, E.. “Asset Fire Sales (and Purchases) in Equity Markets.” Journal of Financial Economics, 86 (2007), 479512.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cremers, M.; Ferreira, M. A.; Matos, P.; and Starks, L.. “Indexing and Active Fund Management: International Evidence.” Journal of Financial Economics, 120 (2016), 539560.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cronqvist, H. “Advertising and Portfolio Choice.” Working Paper, Chapman University (2006).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cronqvist, H., and Thaler, R. H.. “Design Choices in Privatized Social-security Systems: Learning From the Swedish Experience.” American Economic Review, 94 (2004), 424428.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Del Guercio, D., and Reuter, J.. “Mutual Fund Performance and the Incentive to Generate Alpha.” Journal of Finance, 69 (2014), 16731704.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Del Guercio, D.; Reuter, J.; and Tkac, P.. “Demand for Financial Advice, Broker Incentives, and Mutual Fund Market Segmentation.” Working Paper, available at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1361710 (2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edelen, R. M.; Evans, R. B.; and Kadlec, G. B.. “Disclosure and Agency Conflict in Delegated Investment Management: Evidence from Mutual Fund Commission Bundling.” Journal of Financial Economics, 103 (2012), 308326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Egan, M.Brokers versus Retail Investors: Conflicting Interests and Dominated Products.” Journal of Finance, 74 (2019), 12171260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Egan, M.; Matvos, G.; and Seru, A.. “The Market for Financial Adviser Misconduct.” Journal of Political Economy, 127 (2019), 233295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fama, E. F., and French, K. R.. “Luck versus Skill in the Cross-Section of Mutual Fund Returns.” Journal of Finance, 65 (2010), 19151947.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferris, S. P., and Chance, D. M.. “The Effect of 12b-1 Plans on Mutual Fund Expense Ratios: A Note.” Journal of Finance, 42 (1987), 10771082.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Foerster, S.; Linnainmaa, J. T.; Melzer, B. T.; and Previtero, A.. “Retail Financial Advice: Does One Size Fit All?Journal of Finance, 72 (2017), 14411482.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frazzini, A., and Lamont, O. A.. “Dumb Money: Mutual Fund Flows and the Cross-Section of Stock Returns.” Journal of Financial Economics, 88 (2008), 299322.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
French, K. R.Presidential Address: The Cost of Active Investing.” Journal of Finance, 63 (2008), 15371573.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gallaher, S.; Kaniel, R.; and Starks, L. T.. “Advertising and Mutual Funds: From Families to Individual Funds.” CEPR Discussion Paper No. DP10329 (2015).Google Scholar
Gaspar, J.-M.; Massa, M.; and Matos, P.. “Favoritism in Mutual Fund Families? Evidence on Strategic Cross-Fund Subsidization.” Journal of Finance, 61 (2006), 73104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gil-Bazo, J., and Ruiz-Verdú, P.. “The Relation between Price and Performance in the Mutual Fund Industry.” Journal of Finance, 64 (2009), 21532183.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guiso, L.; Pozzi, A.; Tsoy, A.; Gambacorta, L.; and Mistrulli, P. E.. “The Cost of Steering in Financial Markets: Evidence From the Mortgage Market.” Journal of Financial Economics, 143 (2021), 12091226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hackethal, A.; Haliassos, M.; and Jappelli, T.. “Financial Advisors: A Case of Babysitters?Journal of Banking and Finance, 36 (2012), 509524.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haziza, M. M., and Kalay, A.. “Trust and Delegation: A Case to Consider on Broker Rebates and Investor Sophistication.” Journal of Financial Markets, 49 (2020), 100526.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoechle, D.; Ruenzi, S.; Schaub, N.; and Schmid, M.. “Financial Advice and Bank Profits.” Review of Financial Studies, 31 (2018), 44474492.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hortaçsu, A., and Syverson, C.. “Product Differentiation, Search Costs, and Competition in the Mutual Fund Industry: A Case Study of S&P 500 Index Funds.” Quarterly Journal of Economics, 119 (2004), 403456.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ibert, M.; Kaniel, R.; Van Nieuwerburgh, S.; and Vestman, R.. “Are Mutual Fund Managers Paid For Investment Skill?Review of Financial Studies, 31 (2018), 715772.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Inderst, R., and Ottaviani, M.. “Competition through Commisions and Kickbacks.” American Economic Review, 102 (2012a), 780809.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Inderst, R., and Ottaviani, M.. “How (Not) to Pay for Advice: A Framework for Consumer Financial Protection.” Journal of Financial Economics, 105 (2012b), 393411.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ivković, Z., and Weisbenner, S.. “Individual Investor Mutual Fund Flows.” Journal of Financial Economics, 92 (2009), 223237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kalcheva, I., and McLemore, R.. “Multiple Share Classes and 12b-1 Fees: Do You Get What You Pay For?” Working Paper (2019).Google Scholar
Khorana, A., and Servaes, H.. “The Determinants of Mutual Fund Starts.” Review of Financial Studies, 12 (1999), 10431074.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Khorana, A., and Servaes, H.. “What Drives Market Share in the Mutual Fund Industry?Review of Finance, 16 (2011), 81113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koffman, E.Reduction in Commissions that Mutual Funds Pay to Banks.” Israeli Knesset (2012).Google Scholar
Massa, M.How Do Family Strategies Affect Fund Performance? When Performance-maximization Is Not the Only Game in Town.” Journal of Financial Economics, 67 (2003), 249304.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murphy, K. M., and Topel, R. H.. “Estimation and Inference in Two-Step Econometric Models.” Journal of Business and Economic Statistics, 3 (1985), 370379.Google Scholar
Nanda, V.; Wang, Z. J.; and Zheng, L.. “Family Values and the Star Phenomenon: Strategies of Mutual Fund Families.” Review of Financial Studies, 17 (2004), 667698.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peress, J.The Media and the Diffusion of Information in Financial Markets: Evidence from Newspaper Strikes.” Journal of Finance, 69 (2014), 20072043.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reuter, J., and Zitzewitz, E.. “Do Ads Influence Editors? Advertising and Bias in the Financial Media.” Quarterly Journal of Economics, 121 (2006), 197227.Google Scholar
Robles-Garcia, C. “Competition and Incentives in Mortgage Markets: The Role of Brokers.” Working Paper, Stanford University (2019).Google Scholar
Shaton, M. O. “The Display of Information and Household Investment Behavior.” FEDS Working Paper No. 2017-043 (2017).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sialm, C.; Starks, L. T.; and Zhang, H.. “Defined Contribution Pension Plans: Sticky or Discerning Money?Journal of Finance, 70 (2015), 805838.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sirri, E. R., and Tufano, P.. “Costly Search and Mutual Fund Flows.” Journal of Finance, 53 (1998), 15891622.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Solomon, D. H.; Soltes, E.; and Sosyura, D.. “Winners in the Spotlight: Media Coverage of Fund Holdings as A Driver of Flows.” Journal of Financial Economics, 113 (2014), 5372.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sun, Y.Index Fund Entry and Financial Product Market Competition.” Management Science, 67 (2021), 500523.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tetlock, P. C.; Saar-Tsechansky, M.; and Macskassy, S.. “More than Words: Quantifying Language to Measure Firms’ Fundamentals.” Journal of Finance, 63 (2008), 14371467.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trzcinka, C., and Zweig, R.. “The Economic Impact of Rule 12b-1 on the Mutual Fund Industry.” Salomon Brothers Center Monograph Series in Finance and Economics (1990).Google Scholar
Walsh, L. “The Costs And Benefits To Fund Shareholders Of 12b-1 Plans: An Examination Of Fund Flows, Expenses And Returns.” Working Paper, Office of Economic Analysis, United States Securities and Exchange Commission (2004).Google Scholar
Zhao, X.Exit Decisions in the U.S. Mutual Fund Industry.” Journal of Business, 78 (2005), 13651402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Sokolinski supplementary material

Online Appendix

Download Sokolinski supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 505.8 KB