Matching Questionnaire Guide

About the Questionnaire

The Riafin matching questionnaire helps us understand your unique financial situation, goals, and preferences. Your honest and detailed responses enable our algorithm to find advisors who are truly the right fit for you.

Questionnaire Sections

1. Personal Information

What's Asked:

• Age
• Geographic location
• Family status (married, children, etc.)
• Employment status

Why It Matters: Your life stage significantly impacts your financial needs. A young professional has different priorities than someone nearing retirement.

2. Financial Profile

What's Asked:

• Current investable assets
• Annual income
• Net worth (optional)
• Existing investment accounts
• Debt obligations

Why It Matters: Advisors have different minimum asset requirements and specializations. This information ensures we match you with advisors who can work with clients at your wealth level.

3. Investment Experience

What's Asked:

• Years of investing experience
• Types of investments you've used
• Comfort with different asset classes
• Past experiences with financial advisors

Why It Matters: Some advisors specialize in working with first-time investors, while others prefer sophisticated clients. Matching experience levels ensures productive relationships.

4. Financial Goals

What's Asked:

• Short-term goals (1-3 years)
• Medium-term goals (3-10 years)
• Long-term goals (10+ years)
• Timeline for major life events

Common Goals Include:

• Retirement planning
• Buying a home
• Education funding
• Starting a business
• Estate planning
• Charitable giving

5. Risk Tolerance

What's Asked:

• How you react to market downturns
• Investment time horizon
• Income stability
• Emergency fund status

Understanding Your Risk Profile:

Conservative

• Prioritize capital preservation
• Prefer steady, predictable returns
• Uncomfortable with significant volatility

Moderate

• Balance growth and stability
• Accept some volatility for better returns
• Diversified approach

Aggressive

• Focus on long-term growth
• Comfortable with significant volatility
• Higher risk tolerance for potentially higher returns

6. Advisor Preferences

What's Asked:

• Preferred communication style
• Meeting frequency preference
• Importance of local vs. remote access
• Specific credentials or specializations
• Fee structure preference

Communication Styles:

• Hands-on: Regular meetings and updates
• As-needed: Contact when questions arise
• Digital-first: Prefer email/app communication
• Traditional: Phone calls and in-person meetings

Filling Out the Questionnaire

Best Practices

1. Set Aside Uninterrupted Time - Focus on providing thoughtful answers
2. Gather Financial Documents - Have bank statements, investment accounts, and tax returns handy
3. Think Long-term - Consider where you want to be in 5, 10, and 20 years
4. Be Honest About Risk - Don't claim to be aggressive if market drops make you anxious
5. Review Before Submitting - Double-check your answers for accuracy

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Underestimating assets: This may exclude you from qualified advisors
• Overstating risk tolerance: Leads to mismatched investment strategies
• Vague goals: Specific goals help advisors prepare relevant proposals
• Ignoring fees: Consider how you'll pay for advice (hourly, AUM, flat fee)
• Rushing: Take time to think through each question carefully

After You Submit

What Happens Next?

1. Algorithm Analysis (5-10 minutes)
   • Our system processes your responses
   • Matches you with compatible advisors
   • You'll receive 1-3 advisor recommendations

Can You Update Your Answers?

Yes! You can edit your questionnaire responses anytime:

1. Log into your dashboard
2. Go to Profile → Matching Preferences
3. Make your changes
4. Submit for new matches

Understanding Your Matches

Each match will include:

• Match Score: How well the advisor fits your criteria (1-100%)
• Advisor Profile: Background, credentials, and experience
• Specializations: Areas where they excel
• Fee Structure: How they charge for services
• Client Reviews: Ratings from current and past clients

The 12 Questionnaire Steps

Here's an overview of each step in the questionnaire:

1. Age - Your current age
2. Location - Where you live (city/state)
3. Annual Household Income - Your yearly household income
4. Cash Assets - Liquid cash holdings
5. Investments - General investment holdings
6. Real Estate Assets - Property investments
7. Stock Investments - Equity/stock holdings
8. Retirement Investments - PF, NPS, retirement accounts
9. Financial Goals - What you need help with (retirement, tax planning, etc.)
10. Personal Details - Contact information, name
11. Message to Advisor - Custom message for potential advisors
12. Email Confirmation - Verify your email address

Sample Questions

Here are examples of questions you'll encounter:

Investment Philosophy: "If your portfolio dropped 20% in a market downturn, would you:"

• Sell everything to prevent further losses
• Hold steady and wait for recovery
• Buy more while prices are low

Time Horizon: "When do you plan to start withdrawing from your investments?"

• Within 3 years
• 3-10 years
• 10+ years

Advisor Style: "How often do you want to meet with your advisor?"

• Monthly
• Quarterly
• Annually
• As needed

Getting Help

If you have questions while filling out the questionnaire:

• In-app Help: Click the ? icon next to any question
• Live Chat: Available during business hours
• Email: support@riafin.com
• Phone: 1-800-RIAFIN-1

Next Steps

After completing the questionnaire:

1. Learn about Wealth Tiers
2. Understanding the Matching Algorithm
3. Viewing Your Matches