Financial advisors have seen it all, but some client requests still catch them off guard. These moments can be entertaining, but they also highlight the importance of clear communication and trust in the advisor-client relationship. When clients make unusual demands during meetings, it often reveals anxieties or misunderstandings about money management. Addressing these requests thoughtfully helps advisors build stronger connections and provide better guidance. Today, we’re taking a closer look at some of the weird requests advisors say clients make during meetings—and what they might mean for your own financial planning journey.
1. Asking Advisors to Predict the Next Big Stock
One of the most common weird requests advisors say clients make during meetings is asking them to name the next big stock that will “explode” in value. Clients sometimes see advisors as fortune tellers rather than financial professionals. They want a sure thing—something that will double their investment overnight.
Financial advisors know that the market is unpredictable. They can offer educated guesses and strategic advice, but guaranteeing a stock’s future is impossible. When clients push for this kind of prediction, it’s often because they’re feeling insecure about their investments or chasing quick wins. Advisors typically respond by refocusing the conversation on long-term goals and risk management, rather than short-term speculation.
2. Requesting to Hide Money from a Spouse
This one is awkward and raises ethical red flags. Some clients ask their advisors to help them hide assets or accounts from their spouse or partner. These requests might stem from relationship issues, divorce concerns, or simple mistrust.
Financial advisors have a duty to act ethically and within the law. They can’t—and shouldn’t—participate in any attempts to conceal assets. Instead, they encourage open communication and may suggest working with a mediator or counselor. When weird requests like this come up, it’s a reminder of how financial planning often intersects with personal lives in unexpected ways.
3. Bringing Pets or Children to the Meeting for Advice
It might sound unbelievable, but some clients have brought their pets or young children to meetings and asked advisors to offer financial guidance for their furry or tiny family members. From planning for a dog’s future medical expenses to setting up a college fund for a newborn, these quirky moments can be both endearing and challenging.
While it’s unusual, weird requests advisors say clients make during meetings sometimes reveal genuine concerns about family planning. Advisors use these opportunities to educate clients on trusts, estate planning, and insurance options that can benefit the entire family—including pets.
4. Demanding Immediate Loans from Advisors
Some clients, facing urgent financial stress, have asked their advisors to personally loan them money or float them a short-term advance. These requests can put advisors in a tough spot, as lending money to clients is typically against firm policies and can create conflicts of interest.
Advisors handle such weird requests by offering resources for emergency funding, like personal loans through banks or hardship withdrawals from retirement accounts. They also help clients develop plans to build emergency savings, so they’re better prepared in the future. It’s a reminder that financial advisors are there to guide, not to act as personal lenders.
5. Insisting on Investing in Unusual or Risky Assets
Another weird request advisors say clients make during meetings is a strong insistence on investing in unusual or extremely risky assets. Some clients might demand to put large sums into collectibles, rare coins, or even cryptocurrency schemes they read about online.
Advisors tread carefully here. While alternative investments can have a place in a diversified portfolio, they warn clients about the risks and lack of regulation in some markets. Advisors also remind clients that their role is to help manage risk and pursue sustainable growth—not to chase every new trend.
6. Wanting to Record or Livestream the Meeting
With smartphones everywhere, a growing number of clients have asked to record or even livestream their advisor meetings. The reasons vary—some want a record to review later, while others wish to share the meeting with family members who couldn’t attend.
This is one of the more modern, weird requests advisors say clients make during meetings. It raises privacy and confidentiality concerns, and not all firms allow it. Advisors typically explain their policies and may offer to summarize the meeting in writing or invite absent parties to join a secure video call. It’s another example of how technology is changing the advisor-client relationship—and the need for clear boundaries.
What These Weird Requests Teach Us About Financial Advice
Weird requests advisors say clients make during meetings aren’t just funny stories. They tell us a lot about people’s fears, hopes, and misunderstandings when it comes to money. Advisors must balance empathy with professionalism, using these moments to educate and reassure clients. If you’re preparing for a meeting, remember that no question is too strange, but open communication and realistic expectations help everyone get the most from the process.
What’s the strangest request you’ve made or heard of in a financial planning meeting? Share your story in the comments below!
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