Practice by profession
Call practice for financial advisers
Financial conversations ask people to trust you with decisions that matter. Rehearse listening, clear explanation and calm handling of doubt before the real call.
Who this is for
You advise individuals or families on savings, pensions, protection or investments, and you speak with existing clients as well as new ones. People often feel unsure, embarrassed or sceptical, and expect you to listen first and explain without jargon.
The five hardest moments in the call
In the order they usually appear. Find the one where you tend to lose the customer.
- Opening a review call. Clients may expect a sales pitch. Say you are calling to check their situation has not changed, ask what is on their mind and let them lead the first part.
- Drawing out goals and concerns. Clients rarely say what they fear unprompted. Ask about plans, worries and what money is for, and reflect back what you hear before turning to any product.
- Explaining risk in human terms. Words like volatility mean little to many people. Use simple examples and ask what would worry them, and follow your company's rules and the applicable regulations on risk discussions.
- Responding to fees and trust doubts. Clients ask what you earn and why they should trust you. Answer plainly, avoid defensiveness and offer to send your charges in writing.
- Ending with clear actions. People leave financial calls unsure what happens next. Summarise what was discussed, who will do what and by when, and confirm it in writing.
Three objections and strong answers
Example wording to adapt. Use your own words and the facts of the conversation.
- The customer says: I can do this myself online, why would I pay an adviser?
- A strong answer: Many people manage well on their own. Where advisers help is in looking at the whole picture and in having someone to talk it through. Would you like me to explain what I would do for you, and you decide if it is worth the cost?
- The customer says: I do not want to change anything, markets feel too uncertain right now.
- A strong answer: That is understandable and you are not obliged to change anything. Could I ask what worries you most about it? Sometimes talking it through helps, and sometimes the right decision is to leave things as they are.
- The customer says: How much do you earn from this? I do not want to be sold something.
- A strong answer: That is a good question and you deserve a clear answer. I will explain how I am paid before we go further, and I can send it in writing. Please stop me at any point if something does not feel right for you.
A 30-second opener
Replace the [placeholders], then say it out loud. It should take about thirty seconds.
Hello [name], it is [your name] from [firm]. I am calling for your regular review. This is not a sales call. I would like to hear whether anything has changed for you since we last spoke, such as work, family or plans, and whether you have any questions on your arrangements. It should take about [length], and if it is not a good time, we can easily move it. How are things at the moment?
A five-minute practice drill
Do this out loud, not in your head.
Set-up: Ask for an existing client who is quietly anxious about the market, suspicious about adviser fees and says they could do it themselves.
Steps:
- Open the review call and ask what has changed in the client's life.
- Reflect their main concern back in your own words before explaining anything.
- Answer the fee question plainly and agree the next action in writing.
How to tell it worked: The client described a worry in their own words, and your answer on fees was direct without sounding defensive.
Educational conversation training. It is not legal, financial or medical advice and it promises no results. Always follow your company’s rules and the applicable regulations.
Practise this call out loud
Talk to an AI client who plays your customer and read in the report which sentence helped and which to say differently.
Questions about this role
Does this give financial advice?
No. DIRI AI is for practising conversations, not for advice on products, markets or suitability. Follow your company's rules and the applicable regulations for what you must say, ask and record when advising real clients.
How can advisers use practice for difficult clients?
Ask the AI client to be anxious, sceptical or in a hurry. You rehearse staying calm, listening and responding to emotion before facts. The scored feedback highlights whether you let the client speak and whether your explanations were clear.
Can I rehearse a conversation about fees?
Yes. Ask the AI client to challenge what you charge and whether you are worth it. You can practise a direct, honest reply and compare wordings. This is about delivery and tone, not setting or justifying any particular fee.