How to Pitch to II What we’re looking for from contributors and how to send us pitches.

What We’re Looking for:

• Stories that feature conflict, narrative, access, and disclosure.
• International content that will resonate with American readers (e.g., a London-based freelancer’s feature https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b15ywfxthq1f16/the-$100-billion-venture-capital-bomb “The $100 Billion Venture Capital Bomb”
• Articles based on novel data or research about the asset management industry (e.g., the authors of II’s most-read feature, https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b1db3jy3201d38/The-MBA-Myth-and-the-Cult-of-the-CEO “The MBA Myth and the Cult of the CEO,” built a database from which they concluded there is no link between fancy MBAs and stock performance
• Cultural stories about the financial industry (e.g., https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b18qnvy64cr52h/the-death-and-life-of-a-hedge-fund-mansion” The Death and Life of a Hedge Fund Mansion
• Freelancers who know the institutional investment world — or at least the sectors that are relevant to their pitches.
• Retail investment stories for RIAIntel.com.

What We Are Not Interested In

• “High-Profile Person Opines on XYZ.” Unless the person is at the level of a Jamie Dimon, Ray Dalio, or Henry Kravis, we will pass. These stories typically flop because they are so unlikely to speak to the actual conflicts in their business segments. Without conflict, they’re just puff pieces of a sort.
• Dry regulation-centered articles. The bar is higher for regulatory stories, but some freelancers have pulled off hits (e.g., https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b17jgmg3dls3mz/after-years-of-talk,-mifid-ii-is-live-here%E2%80%99s-how-it%E2%80%99s-already-changing-the-research-business “After Years of Talk, MiFID II Is Live. Here’s How It’s Already Changing the Research Business.”
• Bylined articles by asset managers or service providers. If you’re interested in submitting such a piece to II please contact our publisher, Julie Segal for pricing and further details on sponsored content.

What We Pay

II’s freelance rate is $1/per word plus reasonable expenses. Certain writers will earn more, as will authors bringing us hot scoops

We strive to be a freelancer-friendly. This means paying invoices within 30 days of receiving them and responding to pitches in a timely manner.

Note: New contributors will need to be set-up in our systems. Processing inititial paperwork can take 2-3 weeks to complete.

How to Pitch

• Good pitches can be as brief as a couple of paragraphs. If we’re interested, we will get in touch to flesh them out. Send us a plan, not just an idea. For example, an overview of how short-sellers are struggling isn’t as compelling as a spotlight on a specific hedge fund manager who’s barely staying above water. Pitches should include a few potential sources, although you don’t need to secure access ahead of time (but if you have an in, flag it).
• Include an estimated word count. We rarely commission pieces that are fewer than 800 words; the sweet spot is 1,000 to 2,000 (e.g., https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b18zpc0jxr9qwq/Hedge-Funds-Don-t-Want-You-Sharing-Their-Letters-Too-Bad-You-ve-Got-an-iPhone” Hedge Funds Don’t Want You Sharing Their Letters. Too Bad You’ve Got an iPhone. When a story merits, we will publish a feature of 3,000 to 5,000 words (e.g., https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b17xwqqjjf71c9/one-young-harvard-grad%E2%80%99s-quixotic-quest-to-disrupt-private-equity “One Young Harvard Grad’s Quixotic Quest to Disrupt Private Equity and https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b1cq2nzw56k40k/Maria-Bartiromo-Was-a-Generational-Icon-for-Financial-Television-What-Happened “Maria Bartiromo Was a Generational Icon for Financial Television. What Happened?”.

To submit a pitch, complete the form below.