Human behaviour: Assessing attitudes to risk over the lifetime

Exploring financial personality dimensions

clock • 4 min read

Financial personality dimensions highlight differences in clients' financial personalities providing insight into what characteristics may drive a client's attitude to risk, writes Louis Williams

The theory of planned behaviour developed by Icek Ajzen in 1991 has contributed significantly to understanding the drivers of human behaviour. It highlights the impact of our attitudes on our behavioural intentions and consequential actions, with research showing how our attitudes can translate into behaviours including our plans to purchase shares and decisions to take financial risks. However, our "attitude to risk", cannot be directly observed and measured like our heart rate or reaction time. Therefore, to accurately measure a client's attitude to risk, a valid set of items that h...

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

Feel Good Friday: EQ Investors team completes 17.5-mile charity walk

Feel Good Friday: EQ Investors team completes 17.5-mile charity walk

For Carney’s Community

Professional Adviser
clock 02 October 2026 • 1 min read
'Affluent advice gap' sees unadvised individuals sit on £1.61trn amid commission concerns

'Affluent advice gap' sees unadvised individuals sit on £1.61trn amid commission concerns

The Lang Cat research

Jen Frost
clock 01 October 2026 • 3 min read
Succession Alliance launches first profession-wide succession survey

Succession Alliance launches first profession-wide succession survey

Open to people in all roles working in financial planning firms

Sophia Panayi
clock 29 September 2026 • 1 min read