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This paper creates portfolios to better understand the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices on the risk-adjusted returns of Australian Real Estate Investment Trusts (A-REITs) from 2007 to 2016. We find that A-REIT portfolios (except for the high CSR-rated portfolio) outperform the broader Asia-Pacific market. We also show that the low CSR-rated A-REIT portfolio delivers the best risk-adjusted return performance. Our findings indicate that while CSR practices might mitigate risk in A-REITs, they do not appear to improve risk-adjusted return performance. However, CSR practices may be effective in producing greater risk-adjusted returns for A-REITs during market downturns or economic crises.

The aim of this paper is to review empirical findings in the literature relating to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and real estate investment trust (REIT) performance. Specifically, we synthesise CSR‐focused REIT performance studies in an attempt to establish empirical approaches utilised in the academic literature, present findings, identify relevant gaps and reveal themes for future research. The literature focusing on the CSR of REITs to‐date has primarily focused on corporate governance, sustainability and performance, with the latter concentrating on firm‐level financial consequences rather than investment return performance. The review showed that there has been limited empirical research conducted on the relationship between CSR and risk‐adjusted returns of REITs, particularly in Australia.

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This paper reviews the literature on the perceived individual-level demandside barriers to and benefits from seeking and following financial advice. Our review reveals that poor financial literacy, lack of trust and financial adviser anxiety have all been found to dissuade individuals from pursuing professional financial advice. The limited literature on the effectiveness of financial advice in terms of financial well-being suggests a positive link. However, no study has collectively examined the influence of financial literacy, trust and financial adviser anxiety on financial advice seeking and well-being in Australia. We conclude by discussing further gaps, policy recommendations, the recently introduced amendments to the Australian Corporations Act and several directions for future research, which may provide theoretical and practical benefits to policy-makers, industry professionals, academics and individuals.