Portfolio performance commentary’s basic components

Commentary about portfolio performance is part of every investment manager’s communications. The depth and breadth of commentary varies widely. It can consist of a single line giving portfolio returns. Or, it can be a multi-page report full of charts, graphs, and details. The longest reports typically target institutional clients—not individuals. In this article, I review […]

Mistake Monday

MISTAKE MONDAY for August 28: Can YOU spot what’s wrong?

Can you spot what’s wrong in the image below? Please post your answer as a comment. This mistake made me laugh, but it’s not funny if your clients spot mistakes like this. I post these challenges to raise awareness of the importance of proofreading.

Pronoun question: is the Fed “it” or “they”?

As I read market and economic commentary, I see a split between writers who use “it” vs. “they” to refer to the Fed. Opinions can run strong about pronoun questions like this. To help you decide on the right pronoun, I ran a poll asking my readers which they prefer. I also did some additional […]

Mistake Monday

MISTAKE MONDAY for July 31: Can YOU spot what’s wrong?

Can you spot what’s wrong in the image below? Please post your answer as a comment. I can see an update I’d like to make to this page. I post these challenges to raise awareness of the importance of proofreading.

20 topics for your financial blog

If you feel frustrated by coming up with topics for your financial blog, the journalist’s five Ws and one H can help. Below I share a list of 20 topics inspired by the five Ws and one H. As you brainstorm topics, think about how you can solve problems for members of your target audience. […]