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Communicating with clients during volatile markets

Learn key pieces of information that all clients may need to hear from their financial professionals when confronted with volatile markets.
November 5, 2024
A client and his financial professional discuss how to protect assets and reach long term goals during volatile markets

By Marshall Heitzmann, Vice President, Advanced Planning Consultant for Annuities TruStage™

Volatility is inherent in the stock market, but the last few years have been putting every long-standing assumption to the test. Between the pandemic, inflation, financial stress, the housing market, supply chain issues, the invasion of Ukraine, and an entire laundry list of worldwide crises, it’s an understatement to say the markets have been on a rollercoaster.

Not all clients are as immune as financial professionals to the ebbs and flows of investing. Market dips that occur during more typical times may grip clients with fear, leading to a reactive leap out of their long-term investment strategies. With all that’s been happening more recently, that fear may be amplified and lead clients to make even more irrational decisions.

When in “panic mode,” a big-picture discussion about the economy or market cycles may calm some clients. But they may benefit from guidance beyond that initial conversation to help them keep the panic storm at bay, thus providing clients with a clearer economic outlook.

An important part of the value you bring to the financial professional/client relationship is your voice of reason to combat fear, which is a crucial aspect of financial planning. Acknowledging the validity of your clients’ concerns during a volatile market has a twofold benefit: It reinforces the notion that you take your clients seriously and it demonstrates that, by wanting to help, you are on their side.

 

What to communicate when markets are bumpy

There are a few key pieces of information that all clients — and particularly nervous ones — may need to hear from their financial professionals when confronted with volatile markets:

Market volatility is customary.

Anyone who’s been a financial professional for any length of time knows that sudden declines and rises in the stock market are normal. Explain to your clients that, in the grand scope, volatility itself isn’t out of the ordinary and that history may be on their side. Helping them understand stock market trends can tame the scary unknown for them into something much less frightening and easier to handle.

Don’t focus on timing the market.

There may be times when market timing can be employed as an investing strategy, but many considerations need to be made regarding the entire long-term strategy. Discourage “get out of the market” thinking by reminding clients that accurately predicting when to leave during a decline is no guarantee of that same good timing when returning to the market — which is a key aspect of risk management. Guessing wrong could mean incurring significant losses.

View down markets as potential opportunities.

Though it seems counterintuitive, some investors go into panic-selling mode when markets drop and buy when they’re high again. A market contraction reveals true tolerance for risk. When the time seems right based on your market analysis and strategic insights, consider positioning market drops as an “investments on sale” buying opportunity that clients may want to take advantage of.

Focus on the long-term.

Reassure your clients that the financial strategy you’ve worked together to build and follow takes short-term volatility into account. You can even use this as an opportunity to examine rebalancing the portfolio to see if your clients are prepared for the long haul, including considerations of this kind of volatility. And if you find lower risk tolerance than previously thought, explore an appropriate shift to investments that can provide guarantees and risk-of-loss control that better fit your clients' interests.

 

When to communicate

Passively waiting for nervous clients to reach out to you during a financial crisis may only drive fear and panicked investment decisions. Instead, try to temper that anxiety and help them prepare for the impact of a volatile market by proactively debunking market rumors, misleading headlines, or other worrisome stories. Pay attention to the news and see if there could be something concerning to your clients that poses an opportunity to check in. A well-timed email, phone call, or virtual visit could head off clients who are prone to fear-based conclusions and decision-making.

 

Prepare your clients for volatility

Market volatility may make some clients feel particularly vulnerable to loss and fearful of staying in the market. As their financial professional, managing those fears can sometimes feel like as much effort as managing their money, highlighting the importance of wealth management. Client communication about the certainty of uncertainty may help ease anxieties, but you can go a step further.

Leverage the tools and resources made available through our award-winning Behavioral Finance Advice program in partnership with think2perform®. Our BFA™-certified wholesalers provide guidance to help you help your clients. Interactive elements like value card exercises and other methods allow you to guide clients through their thought processes, underlying emotions and behaviors to help ensure their decisions align with their long-term goals.

Learn more about these valuable resources and contact your wholesaler to get started.


Behavioral Finance Advice BFA™

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