Convenience in the mutual fund industry

I examine the role of convenience in the mutual fund industry. I find that investors pay more for relatively convenient funds, and that the flows to convenient funds are less responsive to performance. These findings suggest that investors do not evaluate mutual funds independently, but rather that investors select a primary fund, likely based on beliefs about managerial ability, and then select funds which are relatively convenient to this primary fund.

► I find that investors pay a significant premium to invest in convenient mutual funds. ► I find that the flows to convenient funds are indifferent to fund performance. ► These results demonstrate the importance of convenience to mutual fund investors. ► They suggest that investors choose a primary fund and then funds that are convenient.