diff --git a/backend/src/services/llmSchemas.ts b/backend/src/services/llmSchemas.ts
index 8ca517f..dcefd22 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/llmSchemas.ts
+++ b/backend/src/services/llmSchemas.ts
@@ -93,18 +93,18 @@ export const cimReviewSchema = z.object({
   }).describe("Management Team Overview section"),
 
   preliminaryInvestmentThesis: z.object({
-    keyAttractions: z.string().describe("Key Attractions / Strengths (Why Invest?)"),
-    potentialRisks: z.string().describe("Potential Risks / Concerns (Why Not Invest?)"),
-    valueCreationLevers: z.string().describe("Initial Value Creation Levers (How PE Adds Value)"),
+    keyAttractions: z.string().describe("Key Attractions / Strengths (Why Invest?) — list each point on its own line, e.g. '1. Point one\\n2. Point two'"),
+    potentialRisks: z.string().describe("Potential Risks / Concerns (Why Not Invest?) — list each point on its own line, e.g. '1. Point one\\n2. Point two'"),
+    valueCreationLevers: z.string().describe("Initial Value Creation Levers (How PE Adds Value) — list each lever on its own line, e.g. '1. Lever one\\n2. Lever two'"),
     alignmentWithFundStrategy: z.string().describe("Alignment with Fund Strategy"),
   }).describe("Preliminary Investment Thesis section"),
 
   keyQuestionsNextSteps: z.object({
-    criticalQuestions: z.string().describe("Critical Questions Arising from CIM Review"),
-    missingInformation: z.string().describe("Key Missing Information / Areas for Diligence Focus"),
-    preliminaryRecommendation: z.string().describe("Preliminary Recommendation"),
+    criticalQuestions: z.string().describe("Critical Questions Arising from CIM Review — list each question on its own line, e.g. '1. Question one\\n2. Question two'"),
+    missingInformation: z.string().describe("Key Missing Information / Areas for Diligence Focus — list each item on its own line"),
+    preliminaryRecommendation: z.string().describe("Preliminary Recommendation (Pass / Proceed with Caution / Proceed with Detailed Diligence)"),
     rationaleForRecommendation: z.string().describe("Rationale for Recommendation (Brief)"),
-    proposedNextSteps: z.string().describe("Proposed Next Steps"),
+    proposedNextSteps: z.string().describe("Proposed Next Steps — list each step on its own line, e.g. '1. Step one\\n2. Step two'"),
   }).describe("Key Questions & Next Steps section"),
 });
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/CIMReviewTemplate.tsx b/frontend/src/components/CIMReviewTemplate.tsx
index cab5e87..beca75c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/CIMReviewTemplate.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/CIMReviewTemplate.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,23 @@ import Markdown from 'react-markdown';
 import { Save, Download } from 'lucide-react';
 import { cn } from '../utils/cn';
 
+/**
+ * Normalize inline numbered lists like "1) First item. 2) Second item."
+ * into proper markdown numbered lists for rendering.
+ * Also handles patterns like "1. First item 2. Second item" without line breaks.
+ */
+function normalizeToMarkdown(text: string): string {
+  if (!text) return text;
+  // Convert "N) " patterns (preceded by start-of-string or ". ") to markdown numbered list
+  // Match: start of string or after period+space, then digit(s) followed by ) and space
+  const result = text.replace(/(?:^|\.\s+)(\d+)\)\s/g, (_m, num, offset) => {
+    // If at start of string, just add newline before for markdown
+    if (offset === 0) return `${num}. `;
+    return `.\n\n${num}. `;
+  });
+  return result;
+}
+
 interface CIMReviewData {
   // Deal Overview
   dealOverview: {
@@ -343,8 +360,8 @@ const CIMReviewTemplate: React.FC<CIMReviewTemplateProps> = ({
         </label>
         {type === 'textarea' ? (
           readOnly && value ? (
-            <div className="block w-full rounded-md border border-gray-200 bg-gray-50 px-3 py-2 text-sm text-gray-700 prose prose-sm max-w-none prose-p:my-1 prose-ul:my-1 prose-li:my-0">
-              <Markdown>{value}</Markdown>
+            <div className="block w-full rounded-md border border-gray-200 bg-gray-50 px-3 py-2 text-sm text-gray-700 prose prose-sm max-w-none prose-p:my-1 prose-ul:my-1 prose-ol:my-1 prose-li:my-0.5">
+              <Markdown>{normalizeToMarkdown(value)}</Markdown>
             </div>
           ) : (
             <textarea