Maria, a CFA charterholder, recently started managing the portfolio of a new client, Mr. Adams, who is nearing retirement. Mr. Adams has expressed a preference for low-risk investments and has explicitly stated that he cannot afford to take a loss due to market volatility. After reviewing Mr. Adams' financial situation and goals, Maria believes that including a small percentage of high-yield equities could provide better long-term returns without significantly increasing risk.
While structuring Mr. Adams' portfolio, Maria considers the implications of her investment recommendation. She must ensure that her actions are in line with the CFA Institute's ethical guidelines, particularly about client responsibilities. Given this context, which action should Maria take?