The Science
Every assessment on WealthPsychology is grounded in two decades of academic research — validated across more than 22,000 investors, traders, and businesspeople across multiple market cycles.
Scientific Foundations
I — Personality
The Five Factor Model (OCEAN) is the most replicated personality framework in psychology — validated across 40+ years, cultures, and age groups. It consistently predicts financial decision-making behaviour.
II — Bias
Kahneman & Tversky's Prospect Theory, Shefrin & Statman's disposition effect, and Odean's trading research underpin the 11 cognitive bias scores. Each has documented, replicable effects on real portfolios.
III — Norms
Scores compared against norms from 22,000+ test-takers across multiple market cycles — the 2008 crisis, 2013–21 bull market, and 2020 pandemic. Z-scores show where you stand relative to real market participants.
The Research
Methodology
Neuroeconomics & Behavioral Finance
Research Base
Stanford Postdoctoral Research Programme
Clinical Grounding
Psychiatry & Investor Coaching
Validated Profiles
22,000+ across multiple market cycles
Methodology & Foundations
Our assessments are grounded in decades of peer-reviewed research in neuroeconomics and behavioral finance. The methodology draws from two foundational texts:
The personality assessments and bias frameworks were developed through clinical psychiatry practice, Stanford postdoctoral neuroeconomics research, and investor coaching — then validated across 22,000+ investor profiles spanning multiple market cycles.
The research has been cited in academic journals and referenced in the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times.
Research History
The foundational investor personality framework is developed through clinical psychiatry practice, Stanford neuroeconomics research, and investor coaching. First large-scale testing begins.
Inside the Investor's Brain published by Wiley Finance — the first book to systematically apply the Big Five personality model to investment decision-making.
MarketPsych: How to Manage Fear and Build Your Investor Identity published. The test database passes 10,000 participants.
Population norms refined across three major market cycles. The database grows to 22,000+ test-takers. Trader and businessperson variants developed and validated.
WealthPsychology.com launches, bringing the complete test suite directly to individual investors for the first time.
Publications
Wiley Finance · 2007
The Power of Mind Over Money. The foundational text behind the personality and bias framework used in these assessments. Draws on neuroscience, clinical psychiatry, and thousands of investor interviews to explain why emotion defeats reason in financial decisions.
Wiley Finance · 2010
How to Manage Fear and Build Your Investor Identity. Co-authored with Frank Murtha, Ph.D. Extends the framework to practical investor coaching — with specific strategies for recognising and managing the psychological patterns that erode long-term returns.
Academic Grounding
Start Today
The Risk-Reward Profiler takes 5 minutes and shows you the gap between your risk plan and your risk reality — one of the most predictive factors in investment underperformance.
What you get
Risk Tolerance Gap
The distance between what you think you can handle and what you actually feel.
Personalized Score
Where you sit relative to 22,000+ investors in our validated database.
Actionable Insight
Specific guidance on how your score affects investment decisions.