The Analysis on Impact of Investors' Knowledge, Profit Distribution and Benefit Towards Investors' Acceptance on New Mathematical Formulation of Islamic Unit Trust Model: Field Study

Abstract

Background: The integration model by Ghazali et al. had been used to construct a new mathematical formulation for the Islamic unit trust model. In addition, this new model also provides two types of benefits for investors in the form of Takaful: death coverage and khairat kematian. Objectives: This research paper examines the acceptance of investors’ knowledge, profit distribution, and benefits towards investors’ acceptance of this new mathematical formulation of the Islamic unit trust model. Methods: A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed using simple random sampling among unitholders of each district of Terengganu. The respondents had at least one-unit trust in Malaysia. In order to filter the items and validate the constructs in the study, the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were used. The analysis was done using IBM-SPSS-AMOS version 21.0. Findings: The results of the CFA revealed that the value of RMSEA = 0.086, CFI = 0.895, TLI = 0.884, IFI = 0.896 and Chisq/df = 2.474 which means, all the factor loadings and fitness index are fulfilled. All the independent constructs in this study, which are investors’ knowledge, profit distribution, and benefit, significantly affect the dependent variable, which is investors’ acceptance. In addition, investors’ benefits give the highest positive impact on investors’ acceptance. Conclusions: Therefore, it is concluded that the public has accepted the new mathematical model of Islamic unit trust. Thus, it is recommended that the unit trust management companies implement this new Islamic unit model for investors and companies’ advantage.