Risk Questionnaire: Ailesbury Capital

A) How do you think your best friend would describe you?

i) very risk averse ii) willing to take modest risks but only after careful research and consideration iii) willing to take modest risks after some thought iv) willing to take substantial risks after careful research and consideration v) willing to take substantial risks after taking professional advice vi) someone who embraces risk, perhaps without sufficient consideration

B) How would you describe your understanding of investments and pensions?

i) little or none ii) moderate iii) good iv) advanced

C) Which of these statements most accurately represents your view?

i) capital security is paramount even if returns are unlikely to keep pace with inflation ii) it is better to take modest risk and hope for returns which keep pace with inflation iii) it is worth putting up with significant fluctuations in value in the pursuit of higher returns iv) the pursuit of growth should over-ride concerns about fluctuations in value and even the risk of a significant loss of capital

D) "I believe that the best long-term returns come from more aggressive strategies and am willing to tolerate pronounced and sometimes prolonged falls in value along the way"

i) I disagree ii) I have no opinion iii) I agree

E) Have you ever made an investment of a size which mattered to you and which showed a significant loss in value, even on a temporary basis? If so, did it:

i) cause you significant stress? ii) bother you, but not to the degree of significant stress? iii) not bother you – these things happen iv) I have never made such an investment

F) A stock-market crash wipes 20% off your investment in a month. Would you be most likely to?

i) switch it all into a safer fund(s) to protect from further falls ii) switch half of it into a safer fund(s) iii) do nothing iv) switch into more aggressive fund(s) to exploit the fall in markets

G) Have you ever? (tick all the options which apply)

i) acquired shares through a de-mutualisation (e.g. Canada Life, Standard Life)? ii) acquired shares as part of an employee share scheme? iii) bought shares in a public issue (e.g. eircom, Aer Lingus)? iv) bought shares of your own choice or on advice? v) owned unit-linked (insurance company) funds or unit trusts? vi) dealt in derivatives (e.g. CFDs) or engaged in financial spread-betting? vii) owned investment property (i.e. excluding your principal residence), or invested in a geared property syndicate or similar vehicle?

H) You start a new job in which there is a pension scheme which you must join; the booklet outlines a range of fund choices. Would you be?

i) quite comfortable selecting one or more funds? ii) not comfortable but make a quick decision (don't understand too well/not very interested) iii) make the best decision you could, having researched the options iv) not make a selection and go with the 'Default' option (*) v) seek and follow advice from a friend or colleague

(*) the Default option is the one made available by the Trustees for members who prefer not to select for themselves.

I) You have just finished saving for a once-in-a lifetime holiday. Six weeks before you are due to go you lose your job. Would you?

i) cancel the holiday ii) change to a more modest holiday iii) go as planned iv) extend your planned holiday since time is no longer a problem

J) You have a good friend who has developed a new software application which she is trying to commercialise. She estimates that there is a 15% chance of succeeding in which case investors will be paid out at least 20 times what they put in. If unsuccessful, investments will be worthless. Would you be willing to invest?

i) nothing ii) a month's salary iii) 3 months' salary iv) 6 months' salary v) as much as you could raise

K) You are a contestant on a TV quiz show and have just answered the €50,000 question. The next question can win you €100,000 but you are unsure of the answer - you are certain that it is not A or B but don't know as between C and D. What would you do?

i) not answer and take the €50,000 ii) eliminate one incorrect answer, leaving you a choice of three; if wrong you go home with €25,000; if correct you collect €75,000 iii) guess the answer: if correct you win €100,000, but if wrong you go home empty-handed

L) You are due to go on an early morning international flight and the recommended check-in time is 90 minutes before flying. Which of these scenarios best describes you?

i) pack two days earlier, setting a second alarm clock for a time which will get you there at least 2 hours beforehand (allowing for traffic delays) ii) pack the night before, setting two alarm clocks for a time to arrive at or before the 90 minutes iii) finish packing just before leaving, but in time to get there ‘in or about’ the 90 minutes iv) take the view that 90 minutes really means 60!

M) You are renewing your household insurance, and face a choice of lower premium/higher excess(*) as shown. Which do you choose?

i) premium €700, with excess of €250 ii) premium €600, with excess of €1000 iii) premium €400, with excess of €2500

N) The chart below shows the minimum and maximum returns that may be achieved by four different portfolios over a one-year period. Which one would you choose?

i) Portfolio A ii) Portfolio B iii) Portfolio C iv) Portfolio D