Publication Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

3-2017

Abstract

Using a novel dataset of hedge fund manager automobile purchases, we show that, motivated by sensation seeking, hedge fund managers often take risk for personal and non-pecuniary reasons. In line with the sensation seeking view, managers who own powerful sports cars take on more investment risk but do not deliver higher returns, resulting in lower Sharpe ratios. Moreover, funds managed by performance car owners exhibit higher operational risk and are more likely to fail. Performance car owners demonstrate other attributes associated with sensation seeking, such as a preference for lottery-like stocks, unconventional strategies, and active trading.

Keywords

Sensation seeking, Hedge funds, Risk, Operational risk

Discipline

Finance and Financial Management | Portfolio and Security Analysis

Research Areas

Finance

Publication

Mid-Atlantic Research Conference in Finance 12th MARC 2017, March 17

First Page

1

Last Page

57

City or Country

Wayne, PA

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

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