Speak plainly, candidly to clients

Jargon is overrated.

So don’t overuse complex terms and acronyms that will only confuse and frustrate your clients. Focus instead on simple, direct pitches.

Also offer up graphs and examples that will help clarify detailed explanations and strategies.

Read: Advisor audio: Clients crave simplicity

Financial-Planning.com adds there are several cliché or ambiguous terms that are best to avoid. These include:

Risk-on and risk-off
Alpha and beta
Asset allocation

If you do use them, make sure they’re followed by a comprehensive discussion on strategy to make sure clients don’t attach their own meanings and takeaways to the terms.

Also read:

Investors want plain-talking advisors

Most investors search for advisors who offer competitive and easy-to-follow, comprehensive advice.

How to impress prospective clients

The all-important first meeting can either make or break your relationship with a prospect. So how can you ensure a good impression?

The impact of culture on communication

Advisors need to consider clients’ cultural backgrounds when communicating with them. This could impact their knowledge of terms and how they interpret body language.