Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/74660 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
Thünen-Series of Applied Economic Theory - Working Paper No. 104
Publisher: 
Universität Rostock, Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre, Rostock
Abstract: 
To most individuals saving for retirement is the number one financial goal. However, it reveals a complex task and induces serious behavioral problems which cannot be explained by traditional economic theory. This paper investigates the role of behavioral asset selection on retirement portfolios in Germany. Simulated behavioral portfolios show (i) an impact of emotions since pessimism (optimism) induces the most conservative (aggressive) portfolio, (ii) concentrated portfolios with a large position in only one secure asset and a small position in a risky portfolio, and (iii) a large difference to mean-variance portfolios in terms of level of diversification. I conclude that behavioral portfolio theory has remarkably power in understanding, describing and selecting retirement portfolios in Germany. The results have several implication for financial planning, e.g. for an auto-pilot solution to encourage people to more retirement saving.
Subjects: 
behavioral portfolio choice
decision making under risk
retirement portfolios
JEL: 
G11
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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