Black Swan, Gray Rhino

UNDERSTANDING A CLIENT’S RISK FINGERPRINT

By Michele Wucker

Periods of heightened uncertainty can provoke denial, panic, or paralysis among investors—often at exactly the wrong moments. In this edited discussion, Michele Wucker, author of The Gray Rhino, explores how visible, obvious risks—and opportunities—shape client behavior in volatile markets. Drawing on her “gray rhino” framework and the concept of individual risk fingerprints, Wucker offers advisors a powerful lens for understanding client reactions, cutting through false certainty, and helping investors move from fear or inertia toward thoughtful, informed action.