Bedside Manners for Client Service Professionals

The following excerpt from Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking is reprinted with permission from the author, Malcolm Gladwell. Mr. Gladwell’s exploration of why doctors are or are not sued for malpractice offers invaluable lessons for investment...

Know Your Audience—The Student

Three investment firms, all with strong performance track records and the ability to screen for socially responsible investments, competed for a religious foundation investment mandate. Finalist #1 described the socially responsible screening process—without specific...

Dark Horse Power

We recently asked a top consultant: “How often does the “dark horse”—i.e., the unknown contender—actually win the business?” His answer, “surprisingly often,” holds hope for dark horses everywhere—as well as vital strategic lessons for big-name contenders. Let’s take...

Know Your Audience—The Chauvinist

Incredibly, this is a true story told by a managing director for a hedge fund of funds. A salesman met with this woman and her associate, also a woman and a partner in the firm, with the goal of piquing their interest in a new fund. After shaking hands, these women...

Does the Presentation Book Matter?

Why the book plays a critical role in building assets The book should be: A framework to guide consistent delivery of your firm’s story A series of clear exhibits with the capacity to ignite intellectual understanding A body of evidence—other than performance...