Use Outlook Copilot to Draft Advisor and Client Emails

What This Does

Outlook's Copilot feature drafts complete, professional email replies based on a one-sentence instruction from you — turning a 10-minute email composition task into a 1-minute review-and-send.

Before You Start

• You have Microsoft Outlook open (desktop app or Outlook on the web at outlook.com/outlook.office.com)
• You're signed into a Microsoft 365 account that includes Copilot (Business Standard or above, or M365 Copilot add-on)
• You have an email open that you want to reply to

Steps

1. Find the Copilot button

With an email open, click Reply to open the reply window. Look for the Copilot button in the reply toolbar — it shows as a small sparkle icon. If you're composing a new email, look for it in the compose toolbar.

2. Click "Draft with Copilot"

Click the Copilot icon and select Draft with Copilot from the menu that appears. A text box opens asking "What would you like to say?"

3. Type your brief instruction

In the "What would you like to say?" box, describe what the email should communicate. You don't need to write the full email — just the key points.

What to type: "Reply that the client's ACATS transfer is on track, currently in day 4 of the standard 6-day processing window, and we expect it to complete by [date]. Let them know no action is needed from their side."

4. Click Generate

Click Generate. Copilot drafts a complete, professional email reply in 3–5 seconds.

5. Review and send

Read the draft — it will capture the tone and substance of what you described. Make any adjustments (add specific dates, adjust tone, remove anything generic) and click Send.

Real Example

Scenario: A financial advisor emails asking why their client's account transfer hasn't shown up yet. The transfer is on track — you just need to set expectations.

What you type in Copilot: "Reply that the account transfer is in process, it's a standard ACATS transfer which takes 6 business days, we're currently on day 4, and we expect it to complete by this Friday. No action needed from them."

What you get: A complete, professional 3-paragraph reply explaining the timeline, reassuring the advisor, and offering to follow up if needed by end of the week.

Tips

• The more specific your instruction, the better the draft — include the key facts (dates, amounts, deadlines) rather than saying "reply and update them"
• If the tone is too formal or too casual, click "Regenerate" and add "use a more casual/formal tone" to your instruction
• Copilot uses context from the original email — it will reference what the advisor asked without you repeating it

Tool interfaces change — if the Copilot button has moved, look for similar AI/smart options in the reply toolbar area.