Financial Risk Tolerance

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the important role financial risk tolerance plays in shaping consumer financial decisions. A review of normative and descriptive models of risk tolerance is provided. Additional discussion regarding the measurement of risk tolerance is also presented. The chapter includes the presentation of a conceptual model of the principal factors affecting financial risk tolerance with recommendations designed to enhance the consumer finance field’s knowledge of risk tolerance. The chapter concludes with a summary of additional research needed to better understand the multidimensional nature of risk tolerance.