It’s estimated that around 15% of the UK population is neurodivergent. Neurodiversity refers to the diverse ways that people think, process information and interact socially. It encompasses a broad range of neurological variations, including autism, ADHD and dyslexia, all of which can impact someone’s attitude towards, and ability to understand, financial investments and cyber security.
Here's how neurodiversity can affect cyber security outlooks:
Staying engaged
The ability to concentrate, engage or focus can vary among neurodivergent individuals. Having a separate conversation about the security of their account, rather than including in a long meeting or data gathering exercise might help.
Attention to detail
Other neurodivergent individuals may want lots of information on the security controls in place so they can understand and mitigate any security concerns they have before moving forward.
Communication styles
Having a conversation around a client’s preferred communication style early on in the relationship will help you tailor how you give advice and support. Some clients may prefer face to face walkthroughs on how to implement security for their account or even step by step guidance on how to set up multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Emphasis on privacy
Personal privacy is an important issue for everyone, and individuals with anxiety may want to give this more thought. To make them more confident in why you’re asking for the information you require, explain why it’s needed for the financial planning process, and how their information will be handled securely.
At a time where cyber security is under massive scrutiny, cybersecurity or risk management may be of particular interest to every client, so be prepared to answer additional questions that are focused on the security of the platform or their account.
This article is for financial professionals only. Any information contained within is of a general nature and should not be construed as a form of personal recommendation or financial advice. Nor is the information to be considered an offer or solicitation to deal in any financial instrument or to engage in any investment service or activity.
Parmenion accepts no duty of care or liability for loss arising from any person acting, or refraining from acting, as a result of any information contained within this article. All investment carries risk. The value of investments, and the income from them, can go down as well as up and investors may get back less than they put in. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.