When markets get jittery, maintaining composure and prioritizing long-term goals becomes paramount. This is where your expertise as a financial advisor shines brightest. You act as a steady guide for your clients, navigating them through emotional responses and identifying potential opportunities hidden by market noise.
Proactive planning is key. While short-term volatility can be unsettling, advisors who factor in potential volatility from the outset are better equipped to remind clients to focus on their long-term financial goals.
Effective communication is the cornerstone of strong relationships. Even the most skilled investment strategy can lose its effectiveness without clear and consistent communication. The best advisors know there’s more to the magic than investments alone; building a thriving firm requires maintaining strong trust-based relationships.
Here are four ways to foster better communication and keep clients from worrying when markets are volatile:
1. Listen More, Talk Less
Put yourself in your clients’ shoes: What are their biggest worries during market fluctuations? What are their long-term financial aspirations? This active listening allows you to tailor your communication and address their specific concerns.
For instance, our weekly and monthly research reports provide in-depth market analysis, allowing you to leverage data to illustrate the historical performance of various asset classes during periods of volatility. This empowers clients to understand the importance of diversification and a long-term investment perspective.
2. Check In Regularly
Don’t leave clients feeling like they’re on an information island. Schedule regular calls or meetings, and proactively reach out during volatile periods.
Research shows that 9 out of 10 clients value frequent updates, highlighting the importance of ongoing communication. During these interactions, explain your investment philosophy and the reasoning behind your decisions using Helios’ Tools to craft clear and concise summaries. Remind your clients that market volatility is a normal part of the investment cycle, and historically, markets have always recovered.
3. Customize Your Services
A one-size-fits-all approach falls flat, especially during market volatility. Clients have unique financial needs and risk tolerances, and their comfort level with market swings can vary greatly. Some may panic at the first dip, while others may see it as a buying opportunity.
Work with your clients to create diversified portfolios that can weather market volatility. Consider factors like their investment goals and time horizon.
Using Helios’ pick lists, which are defined by theme — socially responsible or low cost — you can build an incredibly diverse and custom ecosystem of models. This ensures your clients’ portfolios are aligned with their long-term goals and equipped to handle unexpected market fluctuations.
4. Back Your Decisions with Data
Data can be a calming force when markets take a tumble. Historical performance can show clients how various asset classes have behaved during past periods of volatility. This information can help them understand that market fluctuations are normal and shouldn’t derail their investment plans.
Helios equips you with a data arsenal specifically designed to address client concerns during market volatility. Within our tools fund universe, you can access over 27,000 tickers scored via our proprietary confidence rating system and download a full report on each ticker, including a complete, decision-ready set of analytics.
This empowers you to have clear, data-backed conversations with your clients — helping them to understand the importance of diversification and a long-term investment perspective.
Focus on the Long Term
With Helios, you’re not just an advisor — you’re the architect of enduring confidence, guiding clients on a journey marked by expertise, transparency, and unwavering commitment to their financial success.
We have the tools and resources you need to communicate effectively with your clients, including white-labeled market updates, investment strategy summaries, monthly research reports, and investment committee documentation.
Through our suite of customizable investment models, deep market research, and personalized investment commentary and communications, we provide all the capabilities of an entire investment department without the cost, headache, or hassle that comes with an internal team.
Contact us today to learn more.