Contributor FAQs

Can I still write for the blog if I’m not a CFA charterholder?

While we encourage our members to write for the Enterprising Investor, we do accept submissions from other investment professionals.

Who are the readers and at what level should I write?

Our target audience is investment professionals, so assume a basic level of knowledge. But your writing should not be jargon-filled or academic. The tone should be approachable.

How does the process work? How long does it take?

We accept completed pieces that have not been previously published elsewhere. After you submit a piece, we will let you know whether it is accepted within two weeks. Please be aware that submission does not guarantee publication, even if we have previously published a submission of yours. Unfortunately, due to the volume of submissions, we can’t guarantee a response, nor can we provide detailed feedback as to why we reject a submission, nor .

How soon will my piece be published?

There are a number of factors influencing the editorial schedule, so we can’t guarantee a particular publication date. Once a post has been officially accepted, we will aim to publish it within a month, though we expect it will generally get published sooner than that. On rare occasions it may take longer, but we will try to keep you up to date on the status of your post.

Do you have some general guidelines you can send me?

Our contributor guidelines outline what our editors are looking for.

Does my piece get edited?

Yes, our editorial and production staff will review your work and get it ready for publication. You will get the opportunity to review the final version of your article before it is published.

What is the ideal length of a blog piece?

People have very short attention spans when reading online. That said, some topics merit an in-depth examination. Our editors are less concerned with the length of a post than with how concise it is. Is the writing repetitive? Are the essential points communicated clearly and efficiently? Generally, posts should be between 600 and 1,200 words. If your piece is longer or shorter, you may want to read through your piece again to see if there are places where you can tighten the writing.

Can I use graphics/pictures/tables from the web in my piece?

We encourage you to make use of graphics, but please bear in mind that just because a graphic, picture, table, etc., is on the internet, it is not necessarily fair game to use. Quite often, copyright permission must be obtained before the graphic may be used, and requiring us to do so will delay the publication of your post.

If you have created the images yourself, we can use them. In some cases, if the data for someone’s graph is publicly available, we can build a new graph to use with your piece.

Can I use formulas?

Yes, it is fine to use formulas.

Can I submit something I wrote for another publication?

No. With rare exceptions, we are looking exclusively for original content.