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Year-end commentaries are coming. And they’ll stop for no one. Commentaries involve content from many sources, need numerous reviews and approvals, and have non-negotiable timelines.
To make the process as streamlined as possible, it helps to compile some key information in one document – and as early in the process as possible. This can remove a lot of the stress that comes with this project.
Create a fund info list
It’s worth the time to create a reliable reference list that includes full and correct information for things that need to be precise, or that you need to check often. Include:
1. Fund names
Use exact names – is it Canadian Small Cap Fund or Canadian Small-Cap Fund? Be sure to update this list with any new mandates or name changes (TIP: a Simplified Prospectus is often the best place to confirm full fund names).
2. Benchmark names
Again, be precise, because these are difficult to check against external sources. Even the index providers themselves can use different names on their websites, so your company’s style should be followed.
3. Portfolio manager and sub-advisor names
Keep an exact list and update it regularly, since sub-advisors change often and companies’ legal names do as well.
4. Underlying funds
The more exact the list, the easier it will be to cross-reference your information. This becomes more important as your firm launches more fund-of-fund and managed portfolio solutions.
5. Inception date
This information will help your writers know how to position the attribution information in the MRFP commentaries. Again, if your firm is expanding its product shelf, you can avoid wasted time working on MRFPs that should not have performance info.
Bonus tip: think of your translators
If you also produce material in French, a version of this list with your company’s chosen French terminology will be invaluable for translation. This document could literally save your firm hours of work.
Next steps
Share this list with your writers, editors, reviewers – and anyone else who may need to use or check this kind of information. And always be careful to allow only a few select individuals update this list when necessary. This document is powerful when it is reliable. If not, it’s not much more than a coaster for your coffee.
Looking for more commentary tips? Check out our ebook, Your commentary prep-book: get ready for crunch time in no time .