There are calls for advisers to be given more education about managing investor behaviour and expectations to boost their investment returns.

Industry commentator David Whyte, of DCW Management, said behavioural factors were becoming a much more significant consideration in the work of financial planners around the world.

Hugh Massie, of DNA Behavior International, said although investor behaviour – such as getting spooked and selling during a downturn – could cost them returns, the focus should be on equipping advisers to manage that behaviour, not educating investors themselves.

He said the investors were never going to understand market dynamics in volatile circumstances or the complexities of different products.

“Given investors are not professional in the market every day it will always be hard for them to manage their emotions.”

But he said advisers were well positioned to influence their clients’ attitudes.

He suggested they do that by being more aware of their own biases, learning how to adapt their communication style to improve emotional engagement and getting their clients to be emotionally committed to their decisions.

Whyte said it was something that more Kiwi advisers needed to bear in mind. “Lots of financial planners do this already on an evolved basis but it would be more appropriate to have a framework and conceptual structure that goes around that. I think it’s something that’s gaining momentum in Australia quite significantly and is beginning to raise its head here.”

Whyte said it was something that could be driven by the FMA and New Zealand’s financial services regulation should make reference to behavioural finance and economics.

He has scheduled a meeting with the FMA next week to discuss the idea.  “There’s no question that the FMA needs to be aware of the implications of applying this type of discipline to client management.”