Fund assortments, gender, and retirement plan participation

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to promote an understanding of gender effects on retirement plan participation as a function of fund assortment size.

Design/methodology/approach

A decision simulation was conducted among 349 US adults whose task was to invest in a hypothetical 401(k) retirement plan. The number of mutual funds offered for investment was varied and the effects on the incidence and extent of participation observed.

Findings

The results indicate that larger fund assortments tend to reduce participation among women, but increase it among men.

Research limitations/implications

Replication in other contexts and with other data sets would be worthwhile.

Practical implications

To enhance retirement plan adoption/participation, financial service firms may want to tailor such plans according to gender (and other consumer characteristics) according to the present set of findings.

Originality/value

First time authors are aware that the interaction between gender and assortment size is examined.

Citation

Morrin, M., Broniarczyk, S. and Jeffrey Inman, J. (2011), "Fund assortments, gender, and retirement plan participation", International Journal of Bank Marketing, Vol. 29 No. 5, pp. 433-450. https://doi.org/10.1108/02652321111152927