Financial Blogging: Can YOU Simplify Investment Commentary Better Than This? by Susan Weiner, CFA, The Finance Professionals’ Post

I am not perfect. I don’t have all of the answers for how to best simplify the complex sentences that abound in investment commentary and related publications. However, we would all benefit if the smart investment professionals could communicate more clearly and economically.

To spur conversation, I’m posting some before-and-after versions of sentences inspired by what I’ve read in online and printed investment pieces. Most of my tweaks are minor. They don’t dramatically ratchet up the sentences’ effectiveness. However, their simplicity means that they demonstrate techniques that would be easy for anyone to implement.

If you’re trying to improve your writing skills, I hope that you’ll find some inspiration. If you’re a veteran writer or editor, perhaps you can suggest better alternatives.

Investment writing before-and-after examples

Example 1

Before: An important point to make is that rising interest rates do not necessarily have a negative impact for bond investors as often perceived.
After: Contrary to what many think, rising interest rates don’t necessarily hurt bond investors.
Note: “Show, don’t tell” is standard writing advice. Instead of saying that something is important, convey its significance simply and quickly.

Example 2

Before: What are the things that matter most to members of the portfolio management team?
After: What matters most to the portfolio management team?
Note: Deleting unnecessary words makes it easier for readers to grasp your message. The “after” version might be simplified further to “What matters most to the portfolio managers?” or even, depending on context, “What matters most to the portfolio?”

Example 3

Before: The Fed’s statement will be illustrative in highlighting the Fed’s future plans.
After: The Fed’s statement will highlight its plans.
Note: This is one of several examples showing how replacing forms of the verb “to be” strengthens your sentences. Also, “illustrative” and “future” aren’t necessary in this sentence. Readers grasp them from the context.

See full article here.

Financial Blogging: How to Write Powerful Posts That Attract Clients – Description

Financial Blogging: How to Write Powerful Posts That Attract Clients by Susan B Weiner CFA

Blogging has become a “must” for many independent and fee-only financial advisors. It’s a great way to build your business by connecting with current and potential clients as well as referral sources. Blogging attracts prospects to your website, media attention, and speaking engagements. It also cements your reputation as a leader in your field. Savvy investment managers, wealth managers, and other financial professionals know blogs are an excellent way to communicate topical information before it gets stale. This deepens your relationships with current clients. But many advisors struggle to create a steady flow of compelling blog posts. This isn’t surprising. After all, your professional training focused on helping clients manage their investments or finances. You may have never taken a writing class or written for publication. Don’t worry! Help has arrived. This book will help you conquer the challenge of producing high quality blog posts by following a step-by-step process, including how to: Generate and refine ideas for blog posts that will engage your readers Organize your thoughts before you write so you can write more quickly and effectively Edit your writing so it’s reader-friendly and appealing Spread the word about your blog and attract more visitors

Financial Blogging: How to Write Powerful Posts That Attract Clients – Review

…the book will be one of the best investments you’ll make this year…

It walks you through clear, manageable steps for financial blogging. Susan’s got you covered– from coming up with something to say, to figuring out how to say it well (and in compliance), to sticking to a schedule for posting and promoting your brilliance.

…Susan has strategies to suggest for all of us–right-brained and left-brained alike.

…If you’ve already got portions of your blogging process working well, …you can…find good ideas on the topics you find more challenging.

 – Source: Wendy J Cook Communications blog

In her new book, Financial Blogging: How to Write Powerful Posts That Attract Clients, Susan B. Weiner, CFA, teaches financial services professionals how to craft a blog that is effective and makes you shine….

The strength of this book is it caters to all types of learners….

I highly recommend picking up a copy of Financial Blogging: How to Write Powerful Posts That Attract Clients today. It is a must-have resource for anyone in the financial services arena who wants to or already is marketing their services online.

 – Source: kbk wealth connection blog

Susan Weiner, famous among CFA societies for her effective-writing workshops, has produced a powerful reference guide that should become the single best source for assisting independent and fee-only advisers in their blogging activities…. Through exercises and outlines, reinforced with a workbook-style appendix, the reader quickly learns what it takes to accomplish excellent short-form communication.

 – Source: Janet Mangano, CFA Institute Enterprising Investor blog

“It’s all been said.” “Why would anyone want to listen to me?” “I don’t know anything competitors don’t know.”

Susan Weiner has excellent rejoinders to objections like those above in her book, Financial Blogging: How to Write Powerful Posts That Attract Clients.

 – Source: Marcia Yudkin, Marketing Minute (Nov. 20, 2013)

“Susan’s book is a terrific guide for financial advisors who have not done a lot of writing…. I got some ideas from it as well…. One great point she discusses is to learn how to see a post from the reader’s perspective.”

 – Source: Stephen Wershing, The Client Driven Practice blog (Dec. 12, 2013)

About the Author

Susan B Weiner, CFA, teaches a highly regarded blogging class tailored to the needs of financial planners, wealth managers, investment managers, and the marketing and communications staff that supports them. She has spoken about writing across the U.S. and Canada for the CFA Institute. Author of the Investment Writing blog, Weiner writes and edits articles, white papers, investment commentary, and other communications for leading investment and wealth management firms.

Financial Blogging: How to Write Powerful Posts That Attract Clients by Susan B Weiner CFA