Last year I wrote about 17 thought leadership ideas for 2017. And with the another calendar year in the rearview mirror, I wanted to offer my thoughts on updated versions of last year’s topics, as well as some new ideas to get your financial content marketing engine going in 2018.
The good news is that, as with last year, 2018 should provide no shortage of opportunities for you to show your expertise and weigh in on topics that your clients are curious about.
That’s why, in a series of upcoming blog posts, I plan on writing about different white paper and other forms of thought leadership ideas for different segments of the investment management industry.
Here, we’ll start with institutional asset management, with future blog posts featuring ideas for marketers in the private wealth management, investment banking, private equity, and venture capital industries.
Of course, if you want to read all 18 of my ideas for financial marketers in 2018, you can download our e-book at the end of this post.
For now, here are six white paper ideas for financial marketers in the asset management industry for 2018.
1. Europe’s Post-Brexit Investment Landscape
While the United Kingdom’s June 2016 vote to exit
the European Union initially rattled markets, the real test is ongoing as the U.K. government continues its grueling process of actually withdrawing from the EU.
Meanwhile, ancillary effects as a result of the vote—namely many banks’ shifting operations out of London, long hailed as Europe’s financial capital—could result in logistical challenges and other significant changes to the investment landscape. As this process continues, be prepared to explain the ongoing dynamics and what they mean for companies in Britain and continental Europe.
2. Sector Rotation as a Result of Trump’s Policy Changes
While Republicans’ successful efforts to pass tax reform received most of the headlines, regulatory changes implemented by the Trump administration arguably could have an even greater impact on economic growth and the performance of specific sectors.
President Donald Trump spent his first year rolling back rules and regulations touching sectors from healthcare to financial services to energy to telecommunications. In December 2017, the administration announced it had cut regulatory costs by $8.1 billion. As additional regulatory changes come into focus, be ready to write pieces about how they are affecting valuations and growth opportunities in these sectors, as well as investors’ decisions about portfolio allocations.
3. Active Vs. Passive Management
As ETFs, index funds, and other forms of passive investment strategies continued gaining market share last year, a return to a more volatile market environment might serve as an opportunity to ignite a renewed conversation about the advantages of active management.
During what is now a nine-year bull market, it has been easy for investors to ride the rising tide through passive strategies. But a return of volatility could cause investors to rethink this approach and seek managers who can provide some degree of downside protection. Meanwhile, passive management supporters might argue that waiting out short-term volatility is a better path forward. Regardless of which side of the debate you’re on, you’ll want to explain your rationale for which approach will deliver the most value for investors in the new market environment that we are entering.
4. Geographic Allocations in a Post-Free-Trade World
As protectionist sentiment continues to influence trade policy in the United States and other countries, this should have major implications for economic growth and corporate profitability both in developed countries and emerging markets.
In addition to the steel and aluminum tariffs, there could be trade imbroglio related to the Trump administration’s desire to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico, though nothing appears imminent. Still, be prepared to talk about what these changes, as well as the United States’ decision not to participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), could mean for your clients’ portfolios.
5. A New Fed Chairman and the Short-Term Interest Rate Environment
The unprecedented magnitude and scope of central banks’ easy money policies since the financial crisis has created monumental questions about how the global financial system would react once interest rates began rising.
Now that the Fed has slowly begun the process of raising rates—and shrinking its balance sheet overall—the question now becomes how many short-term rate hikes are on the horizon. This question is further complicated by the arrival of a new Fed Chairman, Jerome Powell, a former investment banker who is expected to keep rate rises in line with the cadence set by his predecessor, Janet Yellen.
6. The Return of Volatility
The jolts that shook the market in early February had many proclaiming a return of volatility. Indeed, after years of relative tranquility in global markets, banks’ trading desks the world over likely cheered the return of such rocky waters.
But the bigger question for investors might be what drove volatility so low in the first place? Moreover, what does the return of volatility say about the overall health of corporate earnings and the economy at large? These questions are prime opportunities for investment professionals to showcase their expertise.
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In my next blog post in this series, I’ll provide marketers in the private wealth management industry with six white paper ideas they can use to ignite their content engines in 2018.
Until then, download our free e-book that covers all 18 white paper ideas for financial marketers in 2018.
About the Author
Scott Wentworth is the founder and head financial writer at Wentworth Financial Communications. Scott and the team of writers and editors at WFC help professionals across the financial services industry build their brands by creating investment-grade white papers, bylined articles, newsletters, blogs, social media posts, and other forms of content marketing.