<![CDATA[This research aims to comprehensively evaluate the strategic interrelationships between financial literacy and financial risk tolerance in determining the financial behavior, while incorporating emotional intelligence as a potential moderating variable. Adopting a robust Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach, this study analyzes a purposive sample of 190 students at Ciputra University to map the cognitive and psychological determinants of financial decision-making. The empirical results identify a distinct and sophisticated behavioral mechanism: financial literacy significantly enhances an individual’s financial risk tolerance, which subsequently serves as the primary catalyst for superior financial conduct and prudent money management. Notably, the evidence suggests a non-significant direct path from financial literacy to behavior, indicating that literacy does not independently dictate financial habits. Furthermore, the analysis reveals that emotional intelligence does not exert a significant moderating influence within this structural framework, suggesting that emotional regulation does not amplify the impact of literacy on behavioral outcomes in this demographic. Since financial risk tolerance is identified as a critical full mediator, these findings imply that the mere accumulation of financial knowledge is fundamentally insufficient to transform personal financial habits without a commensurate development in risk assessment capabilities. This study advocates that financial literacy programs in higher education institutions should evolve beyond theoretical instruction to prioritize the cultivation of practical risk management and mitigation skills. Strengthening this specific mediational pathway is vital for fostering rational, systematic, and adaptive financial decision-making among students as they navigate the multifaceted complexities and predatory risks of the contemporary digital economic landscape.]]>
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