Behavioural psychology key to understanding clients, industry agrees

Advisers, business owners and paraplanners share their thoughts

Isabel Baxter
clock • 1 min read

Behavioural psychology has a part to play when considering a client’s financial decisions, most industry respondents to a Professional Adviser survey believe.

When asked ‘do you think behavioural psychology has a part to play when considering a client's financial decisions?', 74% of respondents to a recent PA Asks poll answered yes, 11% answered no, and 16 % answered ‘I don't know'. One pundit said that ethics and transparency are "prerequisites". Another said: "Time after time people sell at the bottom and buy at the top." One industry respondent argued it is not as simple as a yes or no answer.  "You would need a comments box the size of a short novel...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

The banks are back: What does this mean for advisers?

The banks are back: What does this mean for advisers?

Banks ‘uniquely positioned’ to provide advice to mass market

Sophia Panayi
clock 24 August 2026 • 6 min read
Social media investment advice leaves investors out of pocket - research

Social media investment advice leaves investors out of pocket - research

Over half who acted on social media financial advice regretted it

Isabel Baxter
clock 21 August 2026 • 3 min read
New sexual harassment duty: Can adviser firms show they've taken 'all reasonable steps'?

New sexual harassment duty: Can adviser firms show they've taken 'all reasonable steps'?

'Employers will be expected to take all reasonable steps'

Emily Bradshaw
clock 19 August 2026 • 4 min read