We examine whether market makers believe institutional trades are informed by examining relations between institutional ownership and quoted bid-ask spreads in general, and the adverse-selection component of the spread in particular. For our sample of Nasdaq stocks from 1983 through 1991, we...

Diversification is often spoken of as the only free lunch in investing, yet we show that it is not free and is properly considered only in light of its costs. More-exotic asset classes typically come with a higher price tag. We show that fees on diversifying asset classes are high relative to...

Millions of defined benefit pensioners must select a pension insurance method. We present a framework for making this decision within the context of US military veterans' Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP). Federal government subsidies generate a positive expected net payout for SBP. While insurance...

Despite ever more sophisticated risk management and measurement, investment professionals have generally overlooked a simple but powerful metric of relative risk and portfolio diversification -- the normal return gap. We develop a generalized specification of the expected difference in returns...

I examine energy stocks in the context of a diversified investment portfolio. Several factors – the importance of the energy sector, their potential to hedge energy risks, growing interest in real assets, as well as anecdotes of sophisticated investors focusing on energy investments –...

Graphics distill and convey information. The clarity and power of the simple style box efficiently conveys two vital dimensions of investment style for equities-valuation and size. In promoting awareness of style variations, style boxes - Morningstar's particularly - have advanced investment...

I create a tool to help investors categorize an investment in a diversifying, alternative asset class. Using standard portfolio mathematics, I obtain a precise analytical solution to the proportion of the new investment that should be considered stock-like and the proportion that should be...

The behavioral asset allocation framework developed for individual investors can help foundation and endowment trustees become more comfortable with quot;uncomfortablequot; asset classes that would help overall portfolio efficiency. Eleemosynary investment, particularly at smaller charities, is...

While socially responsible investing (SRI) is large and growing, current SRI offerings have shortcomings - including style biases, excessive expenses, tracking error and an incomplete menu of screens. We propose using factor-based models in SRI-screened investment universes to create...