Dr Gerhard Van de Venter

Van de Venter, T.W., Michayluk, D.M. & Davey, G. 2012, 'A longitudinal study of financial risk tolerance', Journal of Economic Psychology, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 794-800.
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Academics are divided as to whether financial risk tolerance is an enduring psychological trait and as a consequence is less likely to change over the life of an individual, or a variable psychological state which varies readily in response to internal and external influences. In this study we report the findings of a longitudinal study that investigates the annual change in financial risk tolerance scores of individuals over a 5. year period and the factors that influence such change. Our results indicate a relatively small annual change in individuals' financial risk tolerance. Although our regression model is ineffective in providing a clarification for a change in the financial risk tolerance scores of individual respondents, we find a slight decrease in financial risk tolerance associated with a decrease in household size and an increase in financial risk tolerance after terminating the services of a financial planner. From our results we propose that financial risk tolerance is a stable personality trait and is unlikely to change substantially over the life of an individual.

Van de Venter, T.W. & Michayluk, D.M. 2008, 'An Insight into Overconfidence in the Forecasting Abilities of Financial Advisers', Australian Journal of Management, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 545-557.
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Financial market participants exercise judgment in decision making and psychological studies have shown that individuals are overconfident about their ability to evaluate financial securities. Range estimation calibration studies indicate that individuals tend to estimate narrow intervals in their estimation of unknown future quantities, suggesting overconfidence. Financial planners have an inherent duty of care and this may lead these individuals to behave differently in their estimation methodology and behaviour. From a survey of Australian financial planners, we find extensive overconfidence in respondents+ ability to make judgements under uncertainty as shown by a narrow range of forecasts and a substantial number of inaccurate predictions. The overconfidence is present both when comparing estimates to the ex-post outcome of a predicted quantity and to an interval based on historical return volatility.

Van de Venter, T.W., Michayluk, D.M. 2007, 'Subjectivity in Judgements: Further Evidence from the Financial Planning Industry', The Journal of Wealth Management, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 17-24.
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Asset allocation is a critical component of portfolio performance and is a significant component of the advice provided by financial plan-ners. The fiduciary obligation of financial planners is to provide investment advice that is appropriate to a client's personal circumstances. Academic research has found evidence of inconsistencies in advice provided by financial advisors. Using a survey of 352 Australian financial planners, the article also finds inconsistencies in a hypothetical asset allocation decision. These inconsistencies may be attributed to the presence of subjective judgment in the decision-making process due to the presence of various psychological factors such as expectations, traits, and biases, the lack of any standardized method for collecting information from clients, and different assumptions, perceptions, and interpretations based on the financial planner's own knowledge, experience, intuitions, and skill sets. The choice of financial planners influences the asset allocation and ultimately the investment returns and outcome.