Calculate Your Risk Tolerance Score

This Risk Tolerance Scale was specifically designed to measure the level of financial risk tolerance. It was developed by two university personal financial planning professors, Dr. Ruth Lytton at Virginia Tech and Dr. John Grable at the University of Georgia, in US.


The scale is based on extensive research and made freely available to all investors. Knowing your financial risk tolerance level is critical, so you only take investment risks you can naturally tolerate.


Answer the 13 questions below and your score will be calculated in seconds and displayed on your account dashboard (No account? Create a free one now)

1. In general, how would your best friend describe you as a risk taker?

2. You are on a TV game show and can choose one of the following; which would you take?

3. You have just finished saving for a "once-in-a-lifetime" vacation. Three weeks before you plan to leave, you lose your job. You would?

4. If you unexpectedly received $20,000 to invest, what would you do?

5. In terms of experience, how comfortable are you in investing in stocks or stock mutual funds?

6. When you think of the word "risk," which of the following words comes to mind first?

7. Some experts are predicting prices of assets such as gold, jewels, collectibles, real estate (hard assets) to increase in value; bond prices may fall, however, experts tend to agree that government bonds are relatively safe. Most of your investments assets are now in high-interest government bonds. What would you do?

8. Given the best and worst case returns of the four investment choices below, which would you prefer?

9. In addition to whatever you own, you have been given $1,000. You are now asked to choose between:

10. In addition to whatever you own, you have been given $2,000. You are now asked to choose between:

11. Suppose a relative left you an inheritance of $100,000, stipulating in the will that you invest ALL the money in ONE of the following choices. Which one would you select?

12. If you had to invest $20,000, which of the following investment choices would you find most appealing?

13. Your trusted friend and neighbour, an experienced geologist, is putting together a group of investors to fund an exploratory gold mining venture. The venture could pay back 50 to 100 times the investment if successful. If the mine is a bust the entire investment is worthless. Your friend estimates the chance of success is only 20%. If you had the money, how much would you invest?

Source: Grable, J.E., & Lytton, R. H. (1999). Financial Risk Tolerance revisited: The development of risk assessment instrument. Financial Services Review, 8, 163-181

Disclaimer: The score of this quiz is intended for and must be used for information and illustrative purposes only. It is not, and should not be regarded as "investment advice" or as a "recommendation" regarding a course of action. You need to make your own decision about suitability of any investments and associated risks, or speak with a licensed professional. LENSELL shall not be liable for any damages or losses that you may incur following your own investment decisions.