Junchao Liao

Welcome to my personal website! 

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Finance at the University of Kansas, expecting to graduate in May 2026. My research focuses on household finance, financial intermediation, and investor behavior, with a primary emphasis on conflicts of interest in 401(k) retirement plans.

My work examines how service providers, including mutual fund families and financial advisors, shape retirement outcomes for American households. One of my papers, on conflicts of interest among affiliated financial advisors in 401(k) plans, has received a Revise and Resubmit from The Journal of Finance. I also study investor behavior in prediction markets, using blockchain transaction data to understand how retail investors learn and trade.

I am on the 2025–2026 academic job market.

I welcome any opportunities to connect and collaborate, please feel free to contact me at: Junchaoliao@ku.edu