I was fortunate to be mentored by some of the best journalists and editors in finance at Barron’s magazine.

There I learned…

• The arc of a compelling story
• How to delight readers through even the most mundane of topics; and
• The common pitfalls to avoid in order to prevent audience boredom

I believe that storytelling is essential to building a successful brand. Below are links to five of my favorite stories – and a non-exhaustive list of other stories – that illustrate my ability to craft compelling narratives.

(Under Marketing Strategy, you can find how I’ve applied my skills as a journalist to results-driven, brand-building.)

MY FAVORITE STORIES

A quick note on why crafting an effective narrative is so important…

Academics have studied the power of storytelling.
Here are three surprising findings:

MORE STORIES

This is a non-exhaustive list of Barron’s magazine and Barrons.com articles published between 2010 and 2015.

• The Charitable Tax Fallout
  Description: Atlas of Giving discusses how changes to the charitable tax code will impact philanthropy.
  
• Family Foundations Find Their Footing
  Description: Family foundations with $1M to $10M assets made a significant impact in 2012.
  
• How to Get 5.5% a Year for the Next Five Years
  Description: Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management offers strategies to benefit from U.S. real estate.
  
• Real Estate: Five Cities Expected to Outperform
  Description: Emerging second-tier real estate markets are expected to show strong growth in 2015.
  
• Who Will Succeed the Vintage Vintners?
  Description: California wine families are navigating leadership transitions amid the industry’s future challenges.
  
• Saving Golf Clubs
  Description: Younger players and private jets are reshaping the golf industry, with remodeling and new courses.
  
• Private Equity Courts The Well-to-Do | Penta
  Description: Blackstone Group targets wealthy individuals for private equity investments to diversify their portfolios.
  
• A Family-Office Co-Op | Penta
  Description: The Corning family’s multifamily office model appeals to wealthy families seeking shared services.
  
• Where the Rich Park Wealth | Penta
  Description: Study shows the top 1% hold a significant portion of wealth in closely-held businesses.
  
• From Pollock to Rothko, How to Spot a Fake
  Description: Art forgery expert offers tips for collectors to avoid purchasing counterfeit artworks.
  
• The Family Portrait
  Description: Tina Barney’s iconic photograph captures the quiet bond between a father and daughter.
  
• Art Auctions Head Online
  Description: Sotheby’s faces pressure to develop its online auction platform in the wake of activist calls.
  
• The $800 Million Club
  Description: Wealthy families demand sophisticated tech platforms to track their global assets and investments.
  
• The “Mid-Caps” of Art
  Description: Chad Loweth sees potential in art pieces valued between $30,000 and $75,000.
  
• Marriage of Convenience: CIBC Eyes U.S. with Atlantic Trust
  Description: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce expands its wealth management with the purchase of Atlantic Trust.
  
• Art Advisors: Are They Worth It?
  Description: An in-depth look at the growing industry of art advisors for both new and seasoned collectors.
  
• Mr. Freud in the Family Office
  Description: Matter Family Office offers psychoanalysis to manage complex family dynamics in wealth management.
  
• High Life, High Fees
  Description: Wealthy clients opt for turnkey luxury villas with hotel services to avoid estate management burdens.
  
• Silvercrest’s Silver Lining | Penta
  Description: Silvercrest’s assets grew 48% annually since 2002, with equity funds outperforming benchmarks.
  
• Social-Impact Investments Finally Grow Up | Penta
  Description: Socially responsible investing now represents $6.6 trillion, reflecting a shift towards impact-driven portfolios.
  
• Investing With Your Heart | Penta
  Description: A charitable account platform offers impact-investment opportunities with fees under 1% annually.
  
• U.S.’s First Impact Bond A Bust | Penta
  Description: A $7.2 million bond aimed to reduce recidivism at Rikers Island fails to meet its goals.
  
• How Impact Philanthropy is Shape-Shifting | Penta
  Description: Exponent Philanthropy reveals a shift toward more impactful, larger donations from foundations.
  
• A Novel Way to Finance Social Good | Penta
  Description: Social-impact bonds offer an opportunity to fund social causes with potential for profit.
  
• Contact Fund: Profitably Lending Money to Charities | Penta
  Description: The Contact Fund offers private investors market-rate returns by lending to New York City nonprofits.
  
• Art Advisors: Are They Worth It? | Penta
  Description: Art advisors help clients find and purchase artworks, charging a commission or hourly fees.
  
• Art Law Rising | Penta
  Description: Lawyers enter the art market, addressing ownership, copyright, and authenticity disputes.
  
• Booming Art Market Paints a Picture of High Risk | Penta
  Description: The art market’s growth signals a potential bubble, warning collectors of rising risks.
  
• The Hedge Funds of the Art World | Penta
  Description: Art funds manage important collections, mirroring the traditional strategies of wealthy collectors.
  
• Pulse of the Rich | Penta
  Description: Wealthy investors remain confident, with U.S. stocks continuing to rise and retirees staying active.
  
• Anatomy of a Billionaire | Penta
  Description: A study on billionaires predicts a new era of philanthropy, passing trillions in wealth.
  
• Overpaying for Financial Advice | Penta
  Description: A survey reveals 13% of decamillionaires are overpaying for financial advisory services.
  
• Wells Fargo Unit Banks on Family History
  Description: Abbot Downing focuses on wealthy clients’ family histories, enhancing their wealth management experience.
  
• U.S. Trust: Winning Back Clients | Penta
  Description: U.S. Trust rebrands to combine personalized service with the capabilities of a large bank.
  
• New Money Is Heading to Brown Brothers Harriman | Penta
  Description: Brown Brothers Harriman sees growth through private equity and lending arms, gaining new clients.
  
• Private Equity: Beware of Zombie Funds | Penta
  Description: Zombie funds invested during peak valuations before the market downturn, leaving investors vulnerable.
  
• Wells Fargo Private Bank Woos Small-Business Owners
  Description: Wells Fargo Private Bank offers tailored services to small-business owners, enhancing both personal and business wealth.
  
• Hedge-Fund Headaches | Penta
  Description: Hedge funds underperform the market, with losses outpacing the S&P in the past year.
  
• Hedge Funds Head South | Penta
  Description: Family offices expect hedge funds to deliver 10% returns, while managers predict lower gains.
  
• How the Superrich Hedge Their Bets | Penta
  Description: The superrich hedge their wealth through a range of strategies, diversifying beyond traditional investments.
  
• The $800 Million Club | Penta
  Description: Wealthy families turn to private equity to diversify, with Northern Trust recommending 50% asset allocation.
  
• Invest Like a Billionaire | Penta
  Description: Wealthy families invest directly in private companies for hands-on control and higher returns.
  
• Citi: Private Equity And Real Estate Top Picks | Penta
  Description: Citi Private Bank predicts private equity and real estate will outperform stocks, with 12% annual returns.
  
• Billionaires Invest Differently | Penta
  Description: Billionaires focus on alternative investments, moving away from traditional stocks and bonds.
  
• Students Try Social-Impact Investing | Penta
  Description: University of Utah students gain practical experience in the growing field of social-impact investing.
  
• Congress Targets Charitable Giving Accounts | Penta
  Description: Congress scrutinizes the rise of donor-advised funds as charitable giving reaches record levels.
  
• Legacy Venture, Silicon Valley’s VC Fund for Charities
  Description: Legacy Venture’s successful VC investments in Facebook and other startups boost its charitable initiatives.
  
• The Charitable Tax Fallout | Penta
  Description: Atlas of Giving predicts the impact of charitable tax code changes on philanthropy and giving.
  
• Philanthropy: A Surprising Rise in Giving
  Description: Atlas of Giving revises its forecast for 2015, predicting a rise in charitable donations.
  
• The Tax Hike Silver Lining | Penta
  Description: Higher taxes and market growth drive significant increases in donations to donor-advised funds.
  
• Family Foundations: Back in Financial Order | Penta
  Description: Small and medium-sized family foundations rebuild their financial reserves, improving charitable giving outlook.
  
• Philanthropic Fiascos | Penta
  Description: Common mistakes in philanthropy explored, offering lessons for more effective charitable endeavors.
  
• The Philanthropic Defense
  Description: Tiger 21 members refine their charitable giving strategies, becoming more sophisticated in their approach.
  
• Estate Planning for Modern Families | Penta
  Description: Effective estate planning for modern families involves balancing diverse assets and blended family dynamics.
  
• Wealth Trends to Watch | Penta
  Description: A UBS survey reveals that modern families are increasingly common among high-net-worth individuals.
  
• Common-Law Spouse | Penta
  Description: Estate planning for common-law spouses helps avoid legal battles over inheritance rights.
  
• Family Business Woes | Penta
  Description: Family businesses face financial optimism but struggle with succession planning for the next generation.
  
• Navigating Complicated “Directed Trusts” | Penta
  Description: Directed trusts provide wealthy families with tailored asset management solutions for complex estates.
  
• IRS Considers New Tax Rules for Art | Penta
  Description: The IRS weighs potential tax reforms targeting art collection ownership and resale profits.
  
• IRS Considers New Tax on Wealthy Families | Penta
  Description: The Treasury Department considers implementing a new tax that could impact wealth transfer strategies and estate planning for wealthy families.
  
• Report Card on Globe’s Private Banks | Penta
  Description: A detailed analysis of the world’s largest private banks, controlling nearly $21 trillion in assets for wealthy clients, highlighting performance and growth.
  
• Behavioral Finance in the Private Bank | Penta
  Description: How private bankers use behavioral finance to help clients make smarter investment decisions and avoid panic during market downturns.
  
• Thompson’s Turnaround at SunTrust’s Private Bank | Penta
  Description: SunTrust’s private bank sees steady growth in assets under management after a leadership turnaround led by Thompson, focusing on client relationships and tailored services.
  
• Invest Like Yale | Penta
  Description: A comparison of Yale’s endowment strategy, which heavily invests in alternatives, offering insight into how high-net-worth individuals can replicate this approach.
  
• The Case for a Globally Diversified Portfolio | Penta
  Description: A former private banker explains the benefits of a globally diversified portfolio for wealthy investors seeking growth beyond domestic markets.
  
• Business Owners Rethink Legacy | Penta
  Description: Business owners are reevaluating their legacies, shifting from traditional wealth transfer models to more dynamic approaches that include charitable endeavors and new family structures.
  
• Head of U.S. Bank Aims to Beat Rivals in the Wealth Game | Penta
  Description: The head of U.S. Bank outlines strategies to surpass competitors in the wealth management space by focusing on personalized services and innovation.
  
• Veritable Offers Up the Unvarnished Truth About Client Reporting | Penta
  Description: Veritable, a wealth manager for America’s richest families, offers a transparent after-tax client reporting system that helps clients make better investment decisions.
  
• Buy Pan-Asia Stocks on the Dips | Penta
  Description: Veritable recommends buying emerging market stocks in Asia during market dips, leveraging a curated list of top-performing money managers.
  
• How to Buy Hot IPOs | Penta
  Description: A guide for wealthy investors on how to gain access to highly anticipated IPOs, such as Alibaba Group, and capitalize on early-stage investment opportunities.
  
• Eric Clapton’s Watchmaker | Penta
  Description: The story behind the $3.6 million watch once owned by Eric Clapton, which has appreciated 14 times its original value since its production in 1989.
  
• ‘Pay for Success Bonds’ Drum Up Interest | Penta
  Description: “Pay for Success” bonds attract investors looking to fund social programs with a financial incentive tied to the success of reducing recidivism or other social goals.
  
• Watch Round-up | Penta
  Description: A selection of luxury timepieces from Audemars Piguet, F.P. Journe, and Officine Panerai that have captured the attention of watch enthusiasts and investors alike.
  
• Post-Digital Mechanical Watch | Penta
  Description: Urwerk’s latest mechanical watch merges traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, showcasing an innovative approach to timekeeping in the post-digital era.
  
• Watchmaker IWC Courts Women | Penta
  Description: IWC’s new Portofino Midsize collection targets women with a stylish range of watches designed to blend elegance with precision.
  
• Numbered Days for Chanel and Armani? | Penta
  Description: A look at how luxury brands like Chanel and Armani may face challenges in the evolving luxury watch market as consumer tastes change.
  
• 7 Lux Stocks to Buy | Penta
  Description: Recommendations for luxury stocks to buy, including shares in companies behind iconic brands like Prada, Swatch, and Tiffany, catering to affluent consumers.
  
• Biggest Givers of 2012 | Penta
  Description: A roundup of the largest charitable donations made in 2012, including Carl Icahn’s $150 million donation to Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
  
• How American Century Investments Funds Science | Penta
  Description: American Century’s $2 billion donation to science, including a major share of its mutual fund company, highlights the intersection of philanthropy and financial strategy.
  
• Fine Wines, Best Value | Penta
  Description: Expert recommendations on the best value wines under $100, including a dry Champagne, savory white, and a robust red Burgundy that offer both quality and affordability.
  
• 9 Top Investment Ideas For Wealthy Investors | Penta
  Description: A curated list of top investment ideas for high-net-worth individuals, including insights into the emerging wine market and opportunities in global stock investments.
  
• When Excess Is A Good Sign
  Description: A lively event at the $3.5 billion Baha Mar resort highlights exuberance in luxury.
  
• Athletes and Charities
  Description: Matt Stover encourages athletes to protect their brand by utilizing donor-advised funds.
  
• The Jazz Behind Treme
  Description: A spotlight on the talented New Orleans musicians who appeared in the HBO series “Treme.”