Financial advisers, voice practice

Answer the fee question without flinching

Clients ask what you earn, whether you can promise a return and why they should not buy an index fund. Rehearse the honest answers by voice and get feedback on wording before the conversation counts.

Start practising for free See the adviser page

Free plan: 3 calls a month, up to 5 minutes each. No card. Practice does not replace compliance training.

Three calls worth rehearsing first

Each one is written the way a trainer would brief it: what the customer says, what usually goes wrong and what to say instead. Adapt the wording to your company’s rules.

“I will just buy an ETF myself”

The customer says: The client has read enough to be confident: “Why would I pay anyone for this?”
What usually goes wrong: The adviser criticises index funds, or lists services.
Say instead: “For plenty of people that is a sensible route. What I can do is help you decide how much, for what goal and what you do when the market falls sharply. If you already have that settled, I will tell you.” Agree where it is true, then ask about the part the client has not planned.
Practise with: Investment-linked insurance: customer prefers ETFs or a savings account

“The state pension will not exist when I retire”

The customer says: A 38-year-old, half angry: “I do not trust the system. Why save in it?”
What usually goes wrong: The adviser argues politics or pushes the product.
Say instead: “I cannot tell you what the state will do, nobody can. What I can show is what you would have if you save a fixed amount from now on, what it costs you, and what the risks are. Then you decide whether it is worth it.” No promises on future benefits.
Practise with: Pension saving: customer doubts the state will provide a pension

“Can you guarantee 6 percent?”

The customer says: A pushy client who wants a number before he agrees to meet.
What usually goes wrong: A vague “historically it has done better”, which the client hears as a promise.
Say instead: “No, and anyone who says yes is not being straight with you. I can explain how the product behaves in good and bad years and what it costs, and you can judge whether that fits your plan.” Practise refusing the number without losing the meeting.
Practise with: Refusing an unacceptable business exception, Meeting with a busy customer

Typical call types

The conversations that come up most often, and what each one is for.

First-contact call: Introduce yourself and explain the purpose of a first meeting without discussing products.
Fact-finding call: Ask about goals, family, income, commitments and existing arrangements.
Review invitation: Invite an existing client to a periodic review in a way that adds value.
Referral call: Contact someone a client suggested and respect their reason for hesitation.

Who you talk to and what they care about

Know the person before you dial. Each role listens for something different.

Professional with surplus income: Making sensible plans without being sold something, and clear fees.
Couple planning for a major life event: Understanding choices, balancing priorities and trusting the person advising them.
Retiree or near-retiree: Security, access to money and avoiding mistakes they cannot recover from.

Sample opening lines

A good opening names who you are, why you are calling and gives the other person an easy way to answer.

First contact: Good afternoon, Mr [Surname]. My name is [your name] from [firm]. You asked about a conversation on your finances. May I explain how a first meeting works, and you can tell me whether it suits you?
Review invitation: Hello, [Name], it is [your name] from [firm]. It has been a year since our last review. Has anything changed in your life that we should talk about?
Referral: Hello, [Name], [your name] from [firm]. [Referrer] suggested I get in touch. I am calling only to ask whether a short conversation would be welcome.

Replace the brackets with your own details. Keep the line short enough to say in one breath.

Wording to handle with care

General reminders, not an exhaustive list. Rules differ by country and company, so follow your company’s approved wording.

Return or performance promises: Do not suggest that an investment will grow or avoid loss. Use approved risk wording and say that values can fall.
Recommendations without knowing the person: General statements on a call can sound like personal advice. Make clear that advice follows a proper assessment.
Pressure to act quickly: Time pressure is inappropriate for financial decisions. Offer a written summary and time to think.
Fee and commission disclosure: Be clear and complete about how the firm is paid, using your approved wording.

This is training material, not legal advice. For anything specific, ask your compliance or legal team.

Practise these calls in DIRI AI

Talk to an AI customer by voice and read a report with the transcript afterwards. These scenarios are the closest fit for this industry.

Recommended practice scenarios

Objections to practise first

The Library in the app also has an industry playbook for banking and finance: terms, practice objections and the limits of safe handling. It is practice material, not advice.

Say the honest answer out loud first

Pick the client you find hardest, talk it through and hear how your fee and risk wording sounds before it matters.

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Questions about this industry

Does practice count as compliance or suitability training?

No. It trains the conversation: honest explanations, plain fees, no promised returns. Regulatory training, suitability assessments and record keeping stay with your firm.

Can I practise the fee conversation?

Yes. Pick a sceptical client, explain how you are paid in your own words and read where the explanation got long or defensive. Use only terms your firm has approved.

Does the AI customer give financial advice?

No. It plays a client. It does not recommend products and nothing in the report is financial advice.