Sias Wins Prestigious 2019 Jack Treynor Prize for Investments Research

Richard Sias, finance department head and Tyler Family Endowed Chair in Finance in the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona, has been named a recipient of the 2019 Jack Treynor Prize.

Sias, with co-authors Laura T. Starks (University of Texas at Austin) and H. J. Turtle (Colorado State University), were awarded for their working paper “Molecular Genetics, Risk, Aversion, Return Perceptions and Stock Market Participation.” Their research helps explain why financial choices are heritable and how genetic endowments such as trust, sociability and wealth can help identify the links between financial choices, risk aversion, beliefs and other variables known to predict stock market participation.

The Q Group’s annual Jack Treynor Prize recognizes superior academic working papers with potential applications in the fields of investment management and financial markets. Each year, the Q Group awards three prizes for prepublication working papers produced by post-doctoral researchers who are employed full-time by academic institutions. The Prize was first instituted in 2014.

“I’m truly honored to be awarded the Jack Treynor Prize, which is named after one of the legends of investments research,” says Sias. “The Q Group’s recognition of our contribution to this field validates the important role academic research makes in society.”

Sias has been with the Eller College of Management since 2011. His areas of expertise include investments, asset pricing, investor behavior and valuation.