Initial Consultation & Goal Setting

A client meets with a financial advisor for the first time to discuss their financial goals, risk tolerance, and current financial situation, laying the groundwork for an investment plan.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

Financial Advisor (Male)

Good morning, Ms. Chen. Welcome. Thanks for coming in today. My name is Andrew, and I'll be your financial advisor. To start, could you tell me a little bit about what brings you in and what your financial goals are?

Client (Female)

Good morning, Andrew. Thank you. Well, I've been thinking about getting my finances in order more seriously. My main goal right now is to save for a down payment on a house within the next five to seven years, and also to start building a retirement fund for the longer term.

Financial Advisor (Male)

Those are excellent and very clear goals, Ms. Chen. To help me understand your situation better, could you give me a brief overview of your current income, expenses, and any existing savings or investments you might have?

Client (Female)

Certainly. I have a stable income from my job, and my monthly expenses are fairly consistent. I have a small emergency fund already, but no significant long-term investments yet. That's why I'm here – to figure out the best way to grow my money.

Financial Advisor (Male)

Perfect. Now, when it comes to investing, how would you describe your comfort level with risk? Are you someone who prefers very stable, low-risk options, or are you comfortable with a bit more volatility for potentially higher returns?

Client (Female)

That's a good question. I'd say I'm moderately cautious. I understand that some risk is necessary for growth, but I wouldn't want to lose a significant portion of my capital. Perhaps a balanced approach? I'm open to learning more about what that entails.

Financial Advisor (Male)

A balanced approach is often ideal for long-term goals like yours. It typically involves a mix of different asset classes to diversify, which helps manage risk while aiming for growth. Based on what you've shared, I can start putting together a preliminary proposal.

Client (Female)

That sounds great. What would be the next step then?

Financial Advisor (Male)

I'll analyze your information and prepare a tailored investment strategy that aligns with your goals and risk tolerance. I'll include different scenarios and projections. We can schedule a follow-up meeting next week to go over everything in detail. How does that sound?

Client (Female)

That works perfectly. Thank you, Andrew. I look forward to our next meeting.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

financial goals

These are specific aims related to money, like saving for a house or retirement. Use this phrase when discussing what you want to achieve with your finances.

down payment

The initial amount of money paid when buying something expensive, like a house. It's a key term in real estate and saving plans.

retirement fund

Money set aside for use after you stop working. This is common in long-term financial planning to ensure security in old age.

risk tolerance

How much uncertainty or potential loss you can handle in investments. It's important to assess this before choosing investment options.

volatility

The degree of variation in the price of an investment over time, often meaning it can go up or down quickly. Use it when talking about risky investments.

diversify

To spread investments across different types to reduce risk. This strategy helps protect your money from losses in one area.

projections

Estimates or forecasts of future financial outcomes, like expected returns. Financial advisors use these to show possible scenarios.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

Could you tell me a little bit about what brings you in and what your financial goals are?

This is a polite way to start a conversation and gather information. It's useful in professional meetings to ask about someone's purpose and objectives. The structure uses 'could you' for a soft request.

My main goal right now is to save for a down payment on a house within the next five to seven years.

This sentence clearly states a personal objective with a timeline. It's practical for explaining plans in financial discussions. Note the use of 'within' to indicate a time frame.

How would you describe your comfort level with risk?

A question to assess someone's attitude toward investment risks. Useful in advisory contexts; 'comfort level' is an idiomatic expression meaning how at ease someone feels.

I'd say I'm moderately cautious.

This expresses a balanced view on risk using 'I'd say' for a personal opinion. It's helpful for describing preferences without being too extreme, common in self-assessments.

A balanced approach is often ideal for long-term goals like yours.

This recommends a strategy and explains why it's suitable. 'Balanced approach' means a mix of safe and risky options. Use it to suggest moderate solutions in planning talks.

We can schedule a follow-up meeting next week to go over everything in detail.

This proposes next steps in a professional interaction. 'Go over' means to review or discuss thoroughly. It's a common phrase for planning future appointments.

That works perfectly. I look forward to our next meeting.

A positive response to a plan, showing agreement and enthusiasm. 'Look forward to' expresses anticipation. Useful for ending conversations politely and positively.