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),...

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...

The actual returns on mutual funds earned by investors are much lower than the rational behavior paradigm of financial economics would suggest. Certainly this is evidenced in the performance of funds distributed through the advisor channel. From the evidence here and elsewhere, much (if not...

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...