Elevating Client Communications: Proven Strategies for Commentary Excellence

What are best practices for client reporting commentary? And how do you optimize the timing of the commentary and figure out who’s best suited to do the writing at your firm?

When to Begin Writing Commentary

At most firms, commentary processes typically kick off in earnest just after the reporting period ends. Yet, forward-thinking client reporting leaders know it’s best to start earlier. An early bird approach proves less burdensome by dividing the workload into manageable parts and extending it over a broader timeline. However, implementing this strategy requires coordination and upfront planning.

The diagram below illustrates this principle. Initiating the commentary process early enables a smoother distribution of effort across the timeline. In practice, this reduces any intense workload spikes, which can create stress for those tasked with writing the commentary. Distributing the workload more evenly lessens stress and streamlines the commentary's production and distribution.

Starting earlier makes it less stressful and helps distribute client reports faster. And who doesn’t like faster?

The diagram below describes how client reporting managers can optimize the work on commentary throughout the period.

Commentary Best Practices

Following consultations with several clients, Cutter has developed a concise list of client reporting best practices. Because we’re focused on enhancing commentary, we’ll explore the essential do’s and don'ts to effectively use bullet points and paragraphs.

Commentary Do’s & Don’ts

Paragraphs vs. Bullets

In advising clients on the nuances of their commentary, we have identified a trend where managers occasionally employ questionable methods in formatting their text. To address this, we provide guidance on how to select between paragraphs and bullet points to elevate your commentary to the highest standard of excellence.

The upshot is that you should use paragraphs to connect multiple thoughts or tell a story and rely on bullet points when you want to present detail-level bits that can be digested quickly.

Who Should Write Commentary

Who should write commentary? It’s an age-old debate! Let’s review some of the pros and cons of assigning commentary responsibilities to the available roles.

While it’s most common to involve client portfolio managers, the choice of who should write commentary depends on your organization’s specific needs and structure.

Advancing Your Report Commentary

Interested in improving your client reporting commentary strategy? Drop us a note to discuss the challenges your firm is facing and how Cutter can help.