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Risk Attitude Profiling Questionnaire

Use our risk profiler to measure your clients' risk attitude and see which of our suggested investment choices might meet their needs.

Risk Profiler

Answer 12 simple questions to find out your client's attitude to risk and generate a report.

Start the questionaire

The more risk a client is willing to take with their investments, the higher their potential return - but the greater their chance of loss. Lower risk investments on the other hand offer greater security but lower potential returns.

Risk tolerance

Your clients' risk tolerance will depend on their financial circumstances and goals. Financial risk tolerance can be split into two parts:

Risk capacity - the ability to take risk

This relates to their financial circumstances and their investment goals. Generally speaking, a client with a higher level of wealth and income (relative to any liabilities they have) and a longer investment term will be able to take more risk, giving them a higher risk capacity.

Risk attitude - the willingness to take risk

Risk attitude has more to do with the individual's psychology than with their financial circumstances. Some clients will find the prospect of volatility in their investments and the chance of losses distressing to think about. Others will be more relaxed about those issues.

Client questionnaire

Download a copy of the questionnaire to complete with your clients offline.

Download questionnaire

Our Risk Profiler

Our risk profiler helps you to measure your clients' risk attitude. Once you understand this, it is easier to see which investment options are more suitable for them.

A full explanation of the underlying methodology used in the risk questionnaire is available in the 'Risk Attitude Profiling Questionnaire Factsheet'.

Click a on a category heading to expand the description:

Very Cautious

Very Cautious investors typically have very low levels of knowledge of financial matters and very limited interest in keeping up to date with financial issues. They are unlikely to have experience of investment beyond bank and building society accounts.

In general, Very Cautious investors prefer knowing that their capital is safe rather than seeking high returns. They are not comfortable with the thought of investing in the stockmarket and would rather keep their money in the bank.

Very Cautious investors usually avoid anything that looks like a gamble. They can take a long time to make up their mind on financial matters and will usually suffer from severe regret when their decisions turn out badly.

Cautious Investors

Cautious investors typically have low levels of knowledge about financial matters and limited interest in keeping up to date with financial issues. They may have some limited experience of investment products, but will be more familiar with bank and building society accounts than other types of investments.

In general, cautious investors do not like to take risk with their investments. They would prefer to keep their money in the bank, but would be willing to invest in other types of investments if they were likely to be better for the longer term.

Cautious investors prefer certain outcomes to gambles. They can take a relatively long time to make up their mind on financial matters and can often suffer from regret when decisions turn out badly.

Moderately Cautious

Moderately Cautious investors typically have low to moderate levels of knowledge about financial matters and quite limited interest in keeping up to date with financial issues. They may have some experience of investment products, but will be more familiar with bank and building society accounts than other types of investments.

In general, moderately cautious investors are uncomfortable taking risk with their investments, but would be willing to do so to a limited extent. They realise that risky investments are likely to be better for longer-term returns.

Moderately Cautious investors typically prefer certain outcomes to gambles. They can take a relatively long time to make up their mind on financial matters and may suffer from regret when decisions turn out badly.

Balanced Investors

Balanced investors typically have moderate levels of knowledge about financial matters and will pay some attention to keeping up to date with financial matters. They may have some experience of investment, including investing in products containing risky assets such as equities and bonds.

In general, balanced investors understand that they have to take investment risk in order to be able to meet their long-term goals. They are likely to be willing to take risk with at least part of their available assets.

Balanced investors will usually be prepared to give up a certain outcome for a gamble provided that the potential rewards from the gamble are high enough. They will usually be able to make up their minds on financial matters relatively quickly, but do still suffer from some feelings of regret when their decisions turn out badly.

Moderately Adventurous

Moderately Adventurous investors typically have moderate to high levels of financial knowledge and will usually keep up to date on financial issues. They will usually be fairly experienced investors, who have used a range of investment products in the past.

In general, Moderately Adventurous investors are willing to take on investment risk and understand that this is crucial in terms of generating long-term return. They are willing to take risk with a substantial proportion of their available assets.

Moderately Adventurous investors will usually take gambles where they see the potential rewards as being attractive. They will usually be able to make up their minds on financial matters quite quickly. While they can suffer from regret when their decisions turn out badly, they are usually able to accept that occasional poor outcomes are a necessary part of long-term investment.

Adventurous

Adventurous investors typically have high levels of financial knowledge and keep up to date on financial issues. They will usually be experienced investors, who have used a range on investment products in the past, and who may take an active approach to managing their investments.

In general, Adventurous investors are happy to take on investment risk and understand that this is crucial in terms of generating long-term return. They are willing to take risk with most of their available assets.

Adventurous investors will readily take gambles where they see the potential rewards as being attractive. They will usually be able to make up their minds on financial matters quickly. While they can suffer from regret when their decisions turn out badly, they are able to accept that occasional poor outcomes are a necessary part of long-term investment.

Very Adventurous

Very Adventurous investors typically have very high levels of financial knowledge and a keen interest in financial matters. They may be considered as 'hobby investors'. They have substantial amounts of investment experience and will typically have been active in managing their investment arrangements.

In general, Very Adventurous investors are looking for the highest possible return on their capital and are willing to take considerable amounts of risk to achieve this. They are usually willing to take risk with all of their available assets.

Very Adventurous investors can easily be persuaded to take a gamble rather than a certain outcome and enjoy gambling as an activity. They have firm views on investment and will make up their minds on financial matters quickly. They do not suffer from regret to any great extent and can accept occasional poor outcomes without much difficulty.


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