The main objective of this research paper is to study the impact of financial literacy on investment performance, with the mediating effects of risk tolerance. Data was collected using a standardised questionnaire from 203 individual investors in Chennai, India and the results indicate that there is a significant positive relationship between financial literacy and investment performance while the level of risk tolerance is partially mediating that relationship. This study is the first of its kind which has explored the mediating role of risk tolerance, and it demonstrated that higher levels of financial literacy make investors more tolerant towards risk which in turn makes a better and satisfying investment performance. This study has several implications for investors, financial advisors and policymakers. It also aids in understanding the significance of financial literacy for the investors and ameliorating awareness and intention to invest among the non-investors.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.