Risk Appetite Quiz

This isn’t about how much you know—it’s about how you feel and what you do when money gets wobbly. Answer honestly: there’s no right or wrong. Your responses help map how you react to volatility, loss, and uncertainty so we can suggest a style that fits you, not a textbook.

0 of 30 answered

Question 1 of 30

Your investments drop 20% in a few months. You open your account, see the number, and your first instinct is to…

Check if something is broken and consider moving everything somewhere "safe". Feel uneasy but remind yourself it might recover—you’re not sure what you’ll do yet. Feel a bit sick but decide not to change anything unless you need the money soon. Notice it, maybe add more if you have spare cash, and get on with your day.

Question 2 of 30

A friend tells you they made a lot of money in the last year on something you’ve never heard of. You think…

Good for them—sounds risky, I’d rather stick to what I know. Maybe I should look into it a little, but I’m not in a rush. I’m curious but I’d want to understand it properly before putting in real money. I’m tempted to put a small amount in to see what happens.

Question 3 of 30

You’re planning to use a chunk of your savings for a house in about two years. That money is currently in…

A savings account or something that can’t go down. I can’t afford to lose it. Mostly safe, with maybe a tiny bit in something that could grow a little. A mix—I’m okay with a small chance of a dip if I might get a bit more. Still in growth investments; I’ll move it when I’m closer to buying.

Question 4 of 30

The news is full of headlines about markets crashing and recession. You…

Feel like I should do something to protect my money before it gets worse. Get anxious and check my accounts more often, but try not to act on it. Notice it but don’t change my plan—I knew there’d be bad years. Read it, maybe feel a bit grim, but it doesn’t change how I’m invested.

Question 5 of 30

You put money into something and it goes up 30% in six months. You…

Think about taking the profit and putting it somewhere safer. Feel good but worry it might drop—I might take some off the table. Are pleased; I’ll leave it unless my plan said otherwise. Are pleased and might add more if it still fits my plan.

Question 6 of 30

You inherit a sum that could cover a few years of expenses. Your first thought about investing it is…

I don’t want to lose a penny. I’d keep most of it in the bank. I’d want most of it safe, with a small part in something that could grow. I’d spread it across different things and accept some ups and downs. I’d invest it in line with my long-term plan and not overthink it.

Question 7 of 30

You’re at a dinner and someone is talking about how much they’ve made in crypto/stocks. You feel…

Glad I’m not in it—sounds like a good way to get burned. A bit left behind, but I’m not sure I’d sleep well with that kind of risk. Curious; I’d want to learn more before judging. Interested; I might look into putting a small amount in for fun.

Question 8 of 30

Your portfolio has been flat or down for two years. You…

Seriously consider switching to something that doesn’t go down. Struggle to stick with it and think about reducing risk. Find it annoying but can stick to the plan if I don’t need the money yet. Accept it as part of the deal and don’t change course.

Question 9 of 30

When you imagine retiring early, the thing that worries you most is…

Running out of money or markets doing badly when I need to spend. Having to go back to work if things go wrong. Some worry about both, but I’ve got a plan I can live with. I’m more worried about saving enough than about short-term market moves.

Question 10 of 30

You miss a big rally—everyone seems to have made money and you didn’t. You…

Feel relieved I didn’t lose money. I’m not built for that rollercoaster. Feel a bit of regret but tell myself I’d have been stressed the whole time. Feel some FOMO but stick to my plan rather than chase. Notice it, maybe tweak something for next time, but don’t panic-invest.

Question 11 of 30

You’re choosing between two options: one that might grow more but can drop a lot, and one that’s steadier but grows less. You’d rather…

Take the steadier one. I value sleep and not checking my account every day. Lean steady, but I’m okay with a small slice in the growth one. Split between them so I get some of both. Take more of the growth one, as long as I don’t need the money soon.

Question 12 of 30

You make an investment and it drops 10% in a month. You…

Sell or move it. I don’t want to watch it fall further. Consider selling; I’d need a good reason not to. Hold but feel stressed; I’d only sell if my situation changed. Hold. Short-term dips don’t change my long-term plan.

Question 13 of 30

How do you feel about not knowing exactly what your investments will be worth in 5 or 10 years?

Very uncomfortable. I need a rough idea of the worst case. A bit uncomfortable, but I can live with a range. Okay with it—I know the range is wide and I’m in for the long run. Fine. I’m not planning to need that money for a long time.

Question 14 of 30

After a big market drop, your first reaction when you look at your statement is…

I need to get out or reduce risk before it gets worse. I feel sick. I might reduce my exposure when things calm down. I don’t like it but I’ll wait and see—I’m not selling today. I notice the number, maybe feel grim, but I don’t change my plan.

Question 15 of 30

Someone you trust says "this is the best time to buy" after a crash. You…

Think they’re being reckless. I’d wait until things look safer. Consider it but I’d only put in a small amount I can afford to lose. Would think about adding if I have spare cash and it fits my plan. Might add more—I’m comfortable buying when others are scared.

Question 16 of 30

You’re 15 years from when you might retire. How do you think about market drops between now and then?

I’d still worry a lot. I don’t want to see big drops at all. I’d worry but I know I shouldn’t sell—I’d still find it hard. I’d see them as normal. Annoying, but not a reason to change course. I’d see them as chances to add more at lower prices.

Question 17 of 30

You’ve decided to invest a set amount every month. One month the market has just crashed. You…

Skip or reduce that month. I’ll wait until it feels safer. Maybe put in a bit less—I’m nervous. Put in the same amount as planned. Put in the same or a bit more if I can.

Question 18 of 30

You see that an investment you own has doubled in a year. Your gut reaction is…

Take the gain and put it somewhere that can’t go down as much. Sell some and leave the rest—lock in part of the win. Leave it; I didn’t invest for one year, I invested for the long run. Leave it or add more; I don’t want to let a good run make me change my plan.

Question 19 of 30

You need to make a big financial decision and the "right" answer isn’t clear. You tend to…

Choose the option that feels safest, even if it might mean less growth. Lean safe but leave a small room for something a bit riskier. Weigh pros and cons and pick something in the middle. Accept that I can’t know for sure and go with what fits my plan.

Question 20 of 30

Your sibling brags about their returns this year. Yours were lower. You…

Feel like I’m doing something wrong and think about copying them. Feel a bit envious but remind myself we might have different goals. Feel a twinge but stick to my own strategy. Don’t really care—comparison isn’t useful for long-term investing.

Question 21 of 30

You’re offered a "once in a decade" opportunity that could double your money or lose half. You…

Decline. I’m not willing to risk losing half. Maybe put in a tiny amount I could afford to lose completely. Consider a small allocation if it’s not gambling money I need. Consider it seriously if it fits my goals and I understand the risk.

Question 22 of 30

How often do you check your investment balance?

Often—and it affects my mood when it’s down. Regularly; I get anxious when I don’t look. Sometimes; I try not to let short-term moves bother me. Rarely. I’m in for years, so daily moves don’t matter much.

Question 23 of 30

You’ve been investing for 10 years. There were 2 bad years where you lost a chunk. Looking back you…

Wish I’d had more in safe assets—those drops still bother me. Accept it happened but I’d prefer to take less risk from here. See it as part of the journey; overall I’m okay with how I’ve done. See it as normal. I stayed the course and that’s what mattered.

Question 24 of 30

A financial influencer says "the market is about to crash" and urges people to go to cash. You…

Feel like I should move to cash too—they might be right. Get nervous and think about reducing my exposure. Take it with a pinch of salt and don’t change my plan. Ignore it. Nobody knows, and I’m not investing for next month.

Question 25 of 30

You’re saving for a goal that’s 10+ years away. How do you feel about putting that money in something that can swing up and down?

Uncomfortable. I’d want a big part in something stable. Okay with a mix—mostly steady, some that can grow. Comfortable with a balanced mix of growth and stability. Comfortable with a growth-focused approach—I have time to ride out dips.

Question 26 of 30

You sell something at a loss. A year later it’s worth much more. You…

Feel terrible and avoid investing in that kind of thing again. Regret it and become more cautious about selling in future. Regret it but use it as a lesson to stick to my plan next time. Accept it—past decisions are done; I focus on what I do from here.

Question 27 of 30

Your partner or family is very nervous about money and wants to "play it safe". You…

I’d rather keep the peace and do what makes them comfortable. I’d compromise—a bit more in safe stuff than I’d choose alone. I’d try to agree on a plan we can both live with. I’d explain my reasoning but their anxiety might still affect our choices.

Question 28 of 30

You read that "staying invested through downturns is usually better than selling". How do you feel?

I get the logic but I’m not sure I could actually do it when it happens. I’d try, but I might still panic if it got really bad. I believe it and I’d do my best to stick to it. I’m confident I could hold through a big drop without selling.

Question 29 of 30

You have a windfall and could either pay off your mortgage early or invest it. You lean towards…

Paying off the mortgage—the certainty of less debt feels better. Probably mortgage, but I’d consider a small amount in investments. Depends on the numbers and my timeline—I could go either way. Investing if the maths and my timeline support it—I’m okay with the trade-off.

Question 30 of 30

In general, when it comes to money and the future, you…

Prefer to avoid big risks. I’d rather grow slowly than lose sleep. Prefer steady with a small amount of growth potential. Accept that growth usually comes with some volatility—I can handle that. Am willing to take meaningful risk for the chance of better long-term results.