SINGAPOREANS are willing to take career risks but are relatively risk-averse when it comes to their finances.

They are also generally unwilling to engage a professional financial planner.

These are some of the findings of the first survey by Swiss Re of risk attitudes in the region. The consumer portion of the survey focused on four aspects - career, health, finance and lifestyle.

Another aspect of the survey focused on small and medium enterprise decision-makers, who were polled on two aspects of business risk - growth and operation.

A follow-up survey may be conducted in 18 to 24 months.

In terms of overall risk appetite, Singapore consumers ranked fourth among eight countries. Swiss Re director (client markets) Sharon Ooi said: 'The perception was the that consumers in developing countries would be more willing to take risk because the opportunity costs are lower. But we found a good correlation between GDP per capita and the ability to take more risk. The higher the GDP per capita, the more risk one is willing to take.'

Australia topped the overall ranking, followed by Hong Kong and Japan.

Career risk was where Singaporeans ranked second-highest - they were willing to give up jobs with established employers if career prospects were better elsewhere.

More than 20 per cent also said they would prefer to run their own business, which Ms Ooi said was evidence of a strong entrepreneurial spirit.

Singaporeans ranked third on willingness to take lifestyle and health risks.

A mini-survey on swine flu found them risk-averse and keen to review their protection plans.

On SMEs, Singapore ranked fourth on business risk appetite, after Australia, China and Japan. Singapore came in second in terms of willingness to take on growth risks, but it ranked fourth in terms of appetite for operational risk.

About 60 per cent of SMEs said they saw the financial crisis as an opportunity for business growth.

The survey polled about 3,900 consumers and 800 SME leaders in eight countries.