• Wrong document? Swap it for free
  • Written by students who passed
  • Immediately available after payment
  • Read online or as PDF
Sell
Where do you study
Your language
Document preview thumbnail
Preview 4 out of 75 pages
Summary

Summary Digital Household Finance | Contemporary Issues in Finance | KU Leuven | 2025/26

Document preview thumbnail
Preview 4 out of 75 pages

Structured summary of the chapters on digital household finance from the Contemporary Issues in Finance course at KU Leuven, including lecture explanations and exam insights. Ideal for exam preparation with key concepts highlighted, practical examples and insights into how financial decisions differ between theory and real-world behavior.

Content preview

Inhoudsopgave
CHAPTER 1 Digital household finance: positioning......................................................................................................................5
1.1. From corporate finance to household finance............................................................................................................................................... 5
1.2. Recent European initiatives to improve financial wellbeing at societal level..................................................................................6
1.2.1. Belgian example: Pensiontest............................................................................................................................................................. 6
1.2.2. Financial literacy..................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
1.2.3. Financial resilience................................................................................................................................................................................. 7
1.2.4. Europe’s Retail Investment Strategy (RIS).................................................................................................................................... 7
1.2.5. Europe’s Savings and Investments Union..................................................................................................................................... 7
1.2.6. Regulatory and supervisory initiatives.......................................................................................................................................... 8
1.3. Motivation to focus on (digital) investing....................................................................................................................................................... 9
1.3.1. Three perspectives on easy access................................................................................................................................................... 9
1.3.2. Human-robot interactions in investment decisions.................................................................................................................. 9
1.3.3. Invest your spare change................................................................................................................................................................... 10
1.3.4. Smart(phone) investing..................................................................................................................................................................... 10
1.4. The rise of the retail investor.............................................................................................................................................................................. 11
1.4.1. Why investing has become more accessible.............................................................................................................................. 11
1.4.2. FSMA Retail Investor Dashboard................................................................................................................................................... 11
1.4.3. Efficient Market Hypothesis (Eugene Fama)............................................................................................................................. 11
1.4.4. Arguments for market inefficiency................................................................................................................................................ 12
1.4.5. Inelastic Market Hypothesis (IMH)............................................................................................................................................... 12
1.5. The emotional component of investing.......................................................................................................................................................... 13
1.5.1. Digital conversion................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
1.5.2. Why robo-advisers need “artificial emotion”............................................................................................................................ 13
1.5.3. From standard finance to applied behavioral finance........................................................................................................... 13
1.6. The behavioral design of financial services.................................................................................................................................................. 14
1.6.1. General principle.................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
1.6.2. Save More Tomorrow (SMarT)....................................................................................................................................................... 14
1.6.3. Behavioral design for digital financial services........................................................................................................................ 14
1.7. Behavioral finance and the enhancement of traditional finance....................................................................................................... 16
1.7.1. Standard finance versus behavioral finance.............................................................................................................................. 16
1.7.2. Behavioral Finance 2.0: connecting people, products and portfolios..............................................................................16
1.7.3. Course approach................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
1.7.4. Key take-aways...................................................................................................................................................................................... 17

CHAPTER 2 Digital household finance: people............................................................................................................................18
2.1. Decision-making under risk: the basic framework................................................................................................................................... 18
2.2. Expected value theory............................................................................................................................................................................................ 18
2.2.1. Expected value....................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
2.2.2. The Sint-Petersburg paradox........................................................................................................................................................... 18
2.3. Expected utility theory........................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
2.3.1. From monetary value to utility....................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.3.2. Certainty equivalent and risk premium....................................................................................................................................... 19
2.3.3. Rules of rationality............................................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.3.4. Challenges to expected utility.......................................................................................................................................................... 20
2.4. Prospect theory......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
2.4.1. Reference point..................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
2.4.2. Risk attitude in gains and losses..................................................................................................................................................... 21
2.4.3. Loss aversion.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
2.4.4. Probability weighting......................................................................................................................................................................... 21
2.5. Use case: investor risk profiling......................................................................................................................................................................... 22
2.5.1. Standard suitability assessment..................................................................................................................................................... 22
2.5.2. Why static questionnaires are insufficient................................................................................................................................. 22


1

, 2.5.3. Improving content and method...................................................................................................................................................... 22
2.5.4. Financial personality: what is measured?.................................................................................................................................. 22
2.5.5. Dynamic sequence of choices.......................................................................................................................................................... 23
2.5.6. Interpretation of the output............................................................................................................................................................. 24
2.5.7. Findings and uses................................................................................................................................................................................. 24
2.6. Behavioral finance extensions............................................................................................................................................................................ 25
2.6.1. Thinking fast and slow....................................................................................................................................................................... 25
2.6.2. Humans, econs and nudges............................................................................................................................................................... 25
2.6.3. Three types of benefits....................................................................................................................................................................... 25
2.8. Detailed theory, calculations and syllabus additions............................................................................................................................... 26
2.8.1. Risk versus uncertainty...................................................................................................................................................................... 26
2.8.2. Expected value: complete worked example............................................................................................................................... 26
2.8.3. Expected utility, diminishing marginal utility and concavity.............................................................................................. 27
2.8.4. Certainty equivalent and risk premium: numerical example............................................................................................. 27
2.8.5. Rationality rules and the Allais paradox..................................................................................................................................... 28
2.8.6. Utility of change and the vaccine framing experiment.......................................................................................................... 28
2.8.7. Prospect theory: complete structure............................................................................................................................................ 29
2.8.8. Probability weighting in more depth............................................................................................................................................ 30
2.8.9. Loss aversion versus risk aversion................................................................................................................................................ 30
2.8.10. Investor profiling: the three quantitative rounds................................................................................................................. 30
2.8.11. Interpreting x+, L and x−................................................................................................................................................................. 31
2.8.12. From risk profile to financial personality................................................................................................................................ 33
2.8.13. Model answer structure for an open question....................................................................................................................... 33

CHAPTER 3 Digital household finance: products........................................................................................................................33
3.1. Return distributions: two complementary views....................................................................................................................................... 33
3.1.1. Why logarithmic returns?................................................................................................................................................................. 34
3.2. Mean and variance: the classic product view.............................................................................................................................................. 35
3.2.1. Random walks........................................................................................................................................................................................ 35
3.2.2. Normal and lognormal modelling.................................................................................................................................................. 35
3.2.3. Efficient markets and predictability............................................................................................................................................. 35
3.2.4. Can machine learning predict returns?........................................................................................................................................ 35
3.2.5. Mean-variance product ratings....................................................................................................................................................... 36
3.3. Beyond mean and variance................................................................................................................................................................................. 36
3.3.1. Why mean and variance are incomplete..................................................................................................................................... 36
3.3.2. Skewness.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 36
3.3.3. Upside potential and downside risk.............................................................................................................................................. 37
3.3.4. Generalized performance measures............................................................................................................................................. 38
3.4. Product positioning with investor loss aversion......................................................................................................................................... 38
3.4.1. Product appreciation.......................................................................................................................................................................... 38
3.4.2. A complete product offer................................................................................................................................................................... 38
3.4.3. Performance reporting....................................................................................................................................................................... 39
3.5. Use case: structured products............................................................................................................................................................................. 39
3.5.1. Position in the retail investment landscape............................................................................................................................... 39
3.5.2. Building block: the term deposit.................................................................................................................................................... 39
3.5.3. Structured fund versus structured bond..................................................................................................................................... 39
3.5.4. Fundamental law of structured products................................................................................................................................... 40
3.5.5. Fees and taxes........................................................................................................................................................................................ 40
3.5.6. Option basics.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 41
3.5.7. Reverse engineering example 1: capital preservation plus participation......................................................................41
3.5.8. Reverse engineering example 2: leveraged upside with downside and a cap..............................................................41
3.6. Chapter 3 — exam-oriented take-aways....................................................................................................................................................... 42
3.7. Detailed theory, calculations and syllabus additions............................................................................................................................... 43
3.7.1. Simulated return paths and the two views................................................................................................................................ 43
3.7.2. Logarithmic returns: why they are used..................................................................................................................................... 43
3.7.3. Fair-coin random walk: mean, variance and memory........................................................................................................... 44
3.7.4. Adding drift to the random walk.................................................................................................................................................... 44


2

, 3.7.5. Normal log returns and lognormal prices................................................................................................................................... 44
3.7.6. Efficient markets, technical analysis and fundamental analysis........................................................................................ 45
3.7.7. Why machine learning is difficult in finance.............................................................................................................................. 45
3.7.8. Cross-sectional product ratings...................................................................................................................................................... 46
3.7.9. Same mean and variance, different distributions.................................................................................................................... 46
3.7.10. Skewness and risk perception...................................................................................................................................................... 47
3.7.11. Upside potential and downside risk: formulas...................................................................................................................... 48
3.7.12. Twelve-month worked example.................................................................................................................................................. 48
3.7.13. Generalized performance reporting........................................................................................................................................... 49
3.7.14. Loss aversion and product classification.................................................................................................................................. 49
3.7.15. Hold-to-Grow, Adapt-to-Trend and Adapt-to-Protect......................................................................................................... 49
3.7.16. Why risk-adjusted performance reporting matters............................................................................................................. 50
3.7.17. Retail investment landscape and client needs........................................................................................................................ 50
3.7.18. Term deposit and the budget for options................................................................................................................................. 51
3.7.19. Structured fund versus structured bond.................................................................................................................................. 52
3.7.20. Fundamental law and fees.............................................................................................................................................................. 52
3.7.21. Option basics....................................................................................................................................................................................... 53
3.7.22. Structured-product example 1: protected participation.................................................................................................... 53
3.7.23. Structured-product example 2: leveraged upside, downside and cap..........................................................................54
3.7.24. Structured-product exam method............................................................................................................................................... 55
3.7.25. Model answer structure for a product-comparison question.......................................................................................... 55

CHAPTER 4 Digital household finance: portfolios......................................................................................................................56
4.1. Portfolio construction: efficiency and adaptivity....................................................................................................................................... 56
4.2. Classic portfolio theory.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 56
4.2.1. The power of diversification............................................................................................................................................................ 56
4.2.2. Annualization......................................................................................................................................................................................... 56
4.2.3. Correlation.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 57
4.2.4. Two-asset portfolio formula............................................................................................................................................................ 57
4.2.5. Efficient frontier.................................................................................................................................................................................... 58
4.2.6. Selecting the optimal efficient portfolio...................................................................................................................................... 58
4.3. Goals-based wealth management..................................................................................................................................................................... 58
4.3.1. Reframing risk as goal shortfall...................................................................................................................................................... 58
4.3.2. Goal Probability and Loss Threshold curves............................................................................................................................. 59
4.4. Adaptive portfolios — method 1....................................................................................................................................................................... 60
4.4.1. Switching between efficient allocations...................................................................................................................................... 60
4.5. Adaptive portfolios — method 2....................................................................................................................................................................... 61
4.5.1. Static weights in adaptive asset-class strategies...................................................................................................................... 61
4.5.2. Selecting the strategies....................................................................................................................................................................... 61
4.5.3. Probability matching........................................................................................................................................................................... 61
4.5.4. Three-step weighting heuristic....................................................................................................................................................... 62
4.5.5. Worked example................................................................................................................................................................................... 62
4.5.6. Comparison of the two adaptive methods.................................................................................................................................. 62
4.6. Behavioral portfolios for normal people....................................................................................................................................................... 63
4.7. Use case: comfort-zone investing...................................................................................................................................................................... 64
4.7.1. Plain-language metrics....................................................................................................................................................................... 64
4.8. Chapter 4 — exam-oriented take-aways....................................................................................................................................................... 65
4.9. Integrated People–Products–Portfolios framework................................................................................................................................. 65
4.10. Detailed theory, calculations and syllabus additions............................................................................................................................ 66
4.10.1. Portfolio return and annualization............................................................................................................................................. 66
4.10.2. Why diversification reduces risk................................................................................................................................................. 66
4.10.3. Slide 9: switching two observations........................................................................................................................................... 67
4.10.4. Correlation is dynamic..................................................................................................................................................................... 67
4.10.5. Two-asset opportunity set and efficient frontier.................................................................................................................. 68
4.10.6. Many assets and diversification breadth.................................................................................................................................. 68
4.10.7. Selecting one efficient portfolio with risk aversion.............................................................................................................. 68
4.10.8. Why a static efficient portfolio may not be behaviorally sufficient...............................................................................69

3

, 4.10.9. Goals-based investing: translating preferences..................................................................................................................... 69
4.10.10. Goal Probability and Loss Threshold curves........................................................................................................................ 69
4.10.11. Adaptive method 1: switching along the efficient frontier............................................................................................. 70
4.10.12. Adaptive method 2: static strategy weights......................................................................................................................... 71
4.10.13. Slow thinking selects the category; fast thinking selects the mix................................................................................71
4.10.14. Probability matching experiment............................................................................................................................................. 71
4.10.15. Three-step probability-matching portfolio algorithm...................................................................................................... 72
4.10.16. Worked probability-matching example................................................................................................................................. 72
4.10.17. Comparing the two adaptive approaches.............................................................................................................................. 73
4.10.18. Behavioral portfolio theory: finance for normal people.................................................................................................. 73
4.10.19. Comfort-zone investing................................................................................................................................................................ 73
4.10.20. Communication and reporting as part of portfolio construction.................................................................................74
4.10.21. Model answer structure for an integrated portfolio question....................................................................................... 74




4

Table of contents

  1. 01 CHAPTER 1 Digital household finance: positioning 5
    1. 1.1. From corporate finance to household finance 5
    2. 1.2. Recent European initiatives to improve financial wellbeing at societal level 6
    3. 1.3. Motivation to focus on (digital) investing 9
    4. 1.4. The rise of the retail investor 11
    5. 1.5. The emotional component of investing 13
    6. 1.6. The behavioral design of financial services 14
    7. 1.7. Behavioral finance and the enhancement of traditional finance 16
  2. 02 CHAPTER 2 Digital household finance: people 18
    1. 2.1. Decision-making under risk: the basic framework 18
    2. 2.2. Expected value theory 18
    3. 2.3. Expected utility theory 18
    4. 2.4. Prospect theory 21
    5. 2.5. Use case: investor risk profiling 22
    6. 2.6. Behavioral finance extensions 25
    7. 2.8. Detailed theory, calculations and syllabus additions 26
  3. 03 CHAPTER 3 Digital household finance: products 33
    1. 3.1. Return distributions: two complementary views 33
    2. 3.2. Mean and variance: the classic product view 35
    3. 3.3. Beyond mean and variance 36
    4. 3.4. Product positioning with investor loss aversion 38
    5. 3.5. Use case: structured products 39
    6. 3.6. Chapter 3 — exam-oriented take-aways 42
    7. 3.7. Detailed theory, calculations and syllabus additions 43
  4. 04 CHAPTER 4 Digital household finance: portfolios 56
    1. 4.1. Portfolio construction: efficiency and adaptivity 56
    2. 4.2. Classic portfolio theory 56
    3. 4.3. Goals-based wealth management 58
    4. 4.4. Adaptive portfolios — method 1 60
    5. 4.5. Adaptive portfolios — method 2 61
    6. 4.6. Behavioral portfolios for normal people 63
    7. 4.7. Use case: comfort-zone investing 64
    8. 4.8. Chapter 4 — exam-oriented take-aways 65
    9. 4.9. Integrated People–Products–Portfolios framework 65
    10. 4.10. Detailed theory, calculations and syllabus additions 66

Document information

Study
Uploaded on
August 6, 2026
Number of pages
75
Written in
2025/2026
Type
Summary
$16.97

Wrong document? Swap it for free Within 14 days of purchase and before downloading, you can choose a different document. You can simply spend the amount again.
Written by students who passed
Immediately available after payment
Read online or as PDF

Seller avatar
Reputation scores are based on the amount of documents a seller has sold for a fee and the reviews they have received for those documents. There are three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The better the reputation, the more your can rely on the quality of the sellers work.
Sold
16
Followers
0
Items
7
Last sold
1 week ago



Why students choose Stuvia

Created by fellow students, verified by reviews

Quality you can trust: written by students who passed their tests and reviewed by others who've used these notes.

Didn't get what you expected? Choose another document

No worries! You can instantly pick a different document that better fits what you're looking for.

Pay as you like, start learning right away

No subscription, no commitments. Pay the way you're used to via credit card and download your PDF document instantly.

Student with book image

“Bought, downloaded, and aced it. It really can be that simple.”

Alisha Student

Working on your references?

Create accurate citations in APA, MLA and Harvard with our free citation generator.

Working on your references?

Frequently asked questions