How Behavioural Science Transforms Financial Advice Relationships and Creates Competitive Advantage

The financial planning industry increasingly recognises that successful advisory relationships extend far beyond technical expertise and portfolio performance. Research demonstrates that emotional and behavioural factors often outweigh purely financial considerations in client decision-making, creating significant opportunities for advisers who understand and leverage these insights to build stronger client relationships and differentiate their services.

The Emotional Foundation of Financial Advisory Decisions

According to research from Morningstar, emotional factors account for approximately 60% of a client’s decision to hire an adviser, compared to 40% for financial factors. This finding challenges the traditional assumption that clients primarily seek advisers for technical expertise or investment performance.