This study uses the portion of a new Total Expense Ratio construct that discloses the reality of adviser/distributor payments of distribution fees (hidden) to sales brokers behind the mutual fund curtain. Distribution fees consist of dealer (broker) concessions, account servicing (12b-1) fees),...

There are several types of domestic-hybrid mutual funds that apply various stock/bond allocations in efforts to provide full diversification in one portfolio. These “one-stop shopping” funds were initially designed to simplify decision making for long-term investors and pension plan...

This is a first-step mutual funds study that provides analysis and disclosure of the elements of a newly defined total expense ratio, which includes the regulatory expense ratio, brokerage commissions, and implicit trading costs. Three structures are provided that identify whether a particular...

In this study, we provide extensive evidence on the performance and characteristics of 1,779 U.S. domestic, actively managed retail equity mutual funds. We find that expense ratios differ widely among Morningstar categories. Overall, our results indicate that funds with low expense ratios...

This study further develops and defines the concept of normative transparency of disclosure. As defined, mutual fund normative transparency is that fund proactive, voluntary disclosure as well as legal and regulatory disclosure required for investors to be able to make information efficient fund...

Given their simplicity and presumed commodity-like nature, institutional Samp;P 500 Index mutual funds should be subject to active price competition, resulting in only nominal size-adjusted differences in expenses. We find a wide disparity among fund expense ratios and their corresponding...