According to Janet Bodnar, author of Money Smart Women, men and women see money far differently. She might have a vested interest in the topic – she’s got a book to hawk. But at least a couple of her points are interesting.

She claims that in a study by Oppenheimer Funds, 41% of men said they didn’t know how mutual funds worked, versus 60% of women. I’m guessing this is a straight case of male ego – more men simply won’t admit they don’t understand mutual funds, regardless of the truth of the matter.

Which relates to point No. 2: Bodnar cites a study of investors at a large discount brokerage firm in the ’90s, done by two professors at U.C. Davis. The study found that the women’s portfolios earned an average of 1.4 percentage points more per year.

Apparently the women’s greater success was due to greater research. Whereas men were willing to shoot for the moon with investments they didn’t really understand, women took a more considered approach. In other words, the dudes foolishly believed their own wild ideas.

Ah, male ego. It’ll get you every time.