Financial advice: A substitute for financial literacy?

Abstract

A lack of financial literacy can hamper the ability of individuals to make well-informed financial decisions. For people who exhibit problems with financial decision making, financial advice has the potential to serve as a substitute for financial knowledge and capability. However, data from the 2009 FINRA Financial Capability Survey indicate that advice more often serves as a complement to, rather than a substitute for, financial capability: individuals with higher incomes, educational attainment, and levels of financial literacy are most likely to receive financial advice.