B2B Narrative Strategist & Executive Ghostwriter | Financial Services, Fintech & and Investment Management | Books & Thought Leadership | Former Expert Witness & Wall Street Trader
New York City Metropolitan Area
4K followers
500+ connections
About
Great expertise does not guarantee that the market will understand why it matters.
I learned that lesson over a career spent at the intersection of complex financial information, business decisions, and communication.
As a Wall Street trader, risk manager, valuation professional, consultant, university finance professor, entrepreneur, and testifying expert witness, I repeatedly saw the gap between what experts intend to communicate and what audiences understand. This gap can mean weakened trust, longer sales cycles, missed opportunities, and confusion about a firm's value proposition.
Today, I help financial services, fintech, and investment management firms, and the executives who lead them, close that gap through two service paths.
NARRATIVE STRATEGY FOR B2B FIRMS
I help organizations assess, design, and implement narratives and thought leadership around complex strategies, products, research, and ideas:
● Narrative Diagnostic — Identify strengths, weaknesses, gaps, and opportunities.
● Narrative Design — Develop positioning, narrative architecture, and thought leadership strategy.
● Narrative Implementation — Translate strategy into quality thought leadership and market-facing communications.
The objective isn't more content. It's a stronger connection between what an organization knows, what it communicates, what audiences understand, and what they subsequently do.
GHOSTWRITING FOR EXECUTIVES
I partner with executives and other industry leaders who have important ideas but may lack the time, distance, or writing bandwidth to develop them fully.
I ghostwrite books, articles, white papers, speeches, presentations, executive commentary, LinkedIn thought leadership campaigns, and other content. My process can include interviews, independent research, data storytelling, outlining, and developmental editing.
WHY ME?
My background combines financial and investment subject-matter expertise with research, strategy, and professional writing. I hold a PhD in finance, MBA in finance, MA in economics, and MFA in creative and professional writing, along with CFA® charterholder, FRM®, and CFE credentials.
My experience has taught me never to assume that information supplied is the same as understanding achieved.
This idea informs my work on Narrative Governance Risk: the risk that an organization's strategy, expertise, or intended message is interpreted differently than intended.
I explore these issues in Money Mainly (https://moneymainly.substack.com), where financial expertise meets communication, judgment, and market interpretation.
Services
Articles by Susan
Activity
4K followers
Experience
Education
Licenses & Certifications
Volunteer Experience
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Publications Manager
American Society of Journalists and Authors
- 7 months
Coordinating content and distribution activities of ASJA publications with blog, magazine, and newsletter editors. Liaise with ASJA Board to ensure publications strategy supports information needs of freelance writer members
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Marketing Specialist
American Society of Journalists and Authors
- 3 months
Wrote copy for AJSA blog, weekly newsletter, and social media to promote 2023 ASJA Virtual Conference
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Judge
Connecticut Invention Convention (CIC)
- 2 months
Economic Empowerment
Reviewed young entrepreneurs' invention submissions
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Judge
American Society of Journalists and Authors
- 2 months
Science and Technology
Reviewed science article submissions
Publications
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CFOs Can't Be Lax About Taxes: 3 Concerns in 2024
CFO
See publicationCFOs need to incorporate tax analysis as part of their strategic decision-making or find themselves dealing with unexpected financial and operational outcomes.
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A Bad Return On Your Money
FRAUD Magazine
See publicationInvestors have been losing their money to scammers since ancient times, but the scale and the cost of investment fraud has only grown in a digital age that has made it easier for fraudsters to steal hard-earned savings. In "A Bad Return On Your Money," published in the Nov/Dec 2023 issue of FRAUD Magazine, Dr. Susan Mangiero, CFA explores several types of investment fraud and cautionary red flags to consider. Susan is a Certified Fraud Examiner. She has provided expert witness testimony about…
Investors have been losing their money to scammers since ancient times, but the scale and the cost of investment fraud has only grown in a digital age that has made it easier for fraudsters to steal hard-earned savings. In "A Bad Return On Your Money," published in the Nov/Dec 2023 issue of FRAUD Magazine, Dr. Susan Mangiero, CFA explores several types of investment fraud and cautionary red flags to consider. Susan is a Certified Fraud Examiner. She has provided expert witness testimony about multiple investment matters.
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5 Tips For Creating Great Content from a Journalist-Turned-Marketer
ASJA Magazine
See publication"5 Tips for Creating Great Content from a Journalist-Turned-Marketer" offers best practices for creating memorable marketing content.
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Why I Pursued an MFA in Creative & Professional Writing
Sisters in Crime Connecticut Chapter Newsletter
This article discusses considerations for pursuing an MFA in writing, the kinds of graduate writing programs available, and Susan Mangiero's experience in pursuing her MFA in writing.
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Calling ERISA Ghostbusters-The Rise of Independent Fiduciaries
Bloomberg Law
Settlement of ERISA lawsuits are increasingly including the hiring of an independent fiduciary to oversee plan processes. With a nod to the movie Ghostbusters, two fiduciary experts examine the reasons for the trend, the role of an independent fiduciary, and how ERISA investment committee activity likely changes when they’re required.
Other authorsSee publication -
Economic Analysis in Fiduciary Monitoring Disputes Following the Supreme Court's 'Tibble' Ruling
Pension & Benefits Daily
Fiduciary monitoring has become a hot topic as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Tibble v. Edison International, according to recent expert insights published by Analysis Group Managing Principal D. Lee Heavner and Fiduciary Leadership LLC Managing Director and Analysis Group affiliate Susan Mangiero. The Tibble ruling, which stated that plan fiduciaries have a responsibility to monitor investments and remove imprudent ones, is important because of the amount of assets in ERISA…
Fiduciary monitoring has become a hot topic as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Tibble v. Edison International, according to recent expert insights published by Analysis Group Managing Principal D. Lee Heavner and Fiduciary Leadership LLC Managing Director and Analysis Group affiliate Susan Mangiero. The Tibble ruling, which stated that plan fiduciaries have a responsibility to monitor investments and remove imprudent ones, is important because of the amount of assets in ERISA retirement plans – approximately $7 trillion as of 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. This decision also comes against a backdrop of growing ERISA litigation. In 2014 alone, ERISA litigation settlements exceeded $1.4 billion, according to Benefits Pro, and this amount excludes the substantial legal costs of defending the cases. In the recent article “Economic Analysis in Fiduciary Monitoring Disputes Following the Supreme Court’s ‘Tibble’ Ruling” (Bloomberg BNA’s Pensions & Benefits Daily, June 24, 2015), Dr. Heavner and Dr. Mangiero explain that what constitutes a reasonable monitoring process may be influenced by plan- and investment-specific factors, as well as by the expected benefits and costs of different monitoring activities. “The monitoring of investments is a broad and complex topic. There is no uniform process that is appropriate in every situation. To the contrary, the list of potentially relevant risk factors is long and subject to revision as circumstances change.” The authors also discuss how complexities arise when calculating economic damages due to the wide array of alternative actions and the substantial variation in timing that may be consistent with a prudent monitoring process. “These are important issues that plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and ERISA lawyers and experts will have to address if, as expected, further challenges to fiduciary monitoring of investments emerge post-Tibble,” said Dr. Heavner
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An Economist's Perspective of Fiduciary Monitoring of Investments
Pension & Benefits Daily
See publicationA central thesis of "An Economist's Perspective of Fiduciary Monitoring of Investments" by Dr. Susan Mangiero is that "ongoing oversight is an exercise in risk management" and that "[r]isk management is a never ending process." The article emphasizes the importance of (a) examining multiple risk factors and not relying on performance numbers alone (b) understanding the presence of financial leverage (should it exist) (c) clarifying the role of a service provider when an outside party is used…
A central thesis of "An Economist's Perspective of Fiduciary Monitoring of Investments" by Dr. Susan Mangiero is that "ongoing oversight is an exercise in risk management" and that "[r]isk management is a never ending process." The article emphasizes the importance of (a) examining multiple risk factors and not relying on performance numbers alone (b) understanding the presence of financial leverage (should it exist) (c) clarifying the role of a service provider when an outside party is used and (d) letting participants know about the type of monitoring being done by an investment committee.
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Muni Bonds, Pension Liabilities and Investment Due Diligence
American Bankruptcy Institute
This article examines topics such as financial disclosures, due diligence, pension plan funding and litigation activity as relates to the U.S. municipal bond market.
Other authorsSee publication -
Pension Plans: The $20 Trillion Elephant in the (Valuation) Room
Business Valuation Update
See publicationCompany pension plans are ticking time bombs that could have a devastating impact on enterprise value. Massive underfunding, along with complicated plan economics, makes it crucial for appraisers and investors to have a solid grasp of the ins and outs of these plans and their potential consequences on value. This article examines why appraisers, private equity funds, lenders and corporate buyers need to understand the relationship between retirement plan liabilities and enterprise value.
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Working Effectively With A Financial Expert Witness
American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Expert Alert
See publication"Working Effectively With A Financial Expert Witness" describes the role of a financial expert as someone who is hired to render analytical clarity and assist the trier of facts. This articles discusses enhancements in the area of budget-setting, clear communications and data integrity.
Courses
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ASBPE Conference: Evolve or Die: The Next Wave of B2B's Digital Transformation
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ASJA Annual Writers Conference 2018
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Adobe Max Conference 2021
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Brandweek Masters Live 2020
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Business Communications 2021
WRT 577
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Character Arc with Donald Maass 2020
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Content Marketing Conference 2022
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Content Marketing and Corporate Storytelling 2020
WRT 576
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Essence of Storytelling with Chris Vogler 2020
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MarketingProfs B2B Forum 2020 2021 2022
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MarketingProfs: Measuring What Matters 2025
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Narrative Nonfiction Writing 2021
WRT 571
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Professional Speechwriters Association's Speechwriting School
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Revision Toolbox with Emma Dryden 2020
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Save the Cat Screenwriting Workshop with Ben Frahm 2016
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Save the Cat Storytelling Workshop with Jessica Brody 2020
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Script Analysis - Gotham Writers Workshop 2020
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Short Story Writing - Mark Twain House & Museum 2021
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Storytelling with Matthew Dicks 2018
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Tinker Mountain Writers' Retreat - Hollins University 2018
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Use of Humor in Business to Persuade, Enhance Brand Value and Grow Market Share 2020
WRT 539
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Writing Craft with Allison Dickens - Westport Writers Workshop 2019
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Languages
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French
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English
Native or bilingual proficiency
Organizations
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ACES: The Society for Editing
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ACES: The Society for Editing is the nation's leading organization of editing professionals, educators, and students.
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American Society of Journalists and Authors
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ASJA's mission is to be "the voice and career resource for independent, entrepreneurial, professional nonfiction writers."
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Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor
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The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and application of humor to effect positive change.
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Association of Ghostwriters
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The Association of Ghostwriters is "the leading professional organization for ghostwriters of books, articles, speeches, blogs and social media content. Members are experienced ghostwriters dedicated to providing high-quality content."
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Authors Guild
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The Authors Guild is the nation’s oldest and largest professional organization of writers.
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CFA Institute
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As per the CFA Institute website, "It is only through transparent, ethical, and truly accountable service that finance contributes to the ultimate benefit of society."
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National Society of Newspaper Columnists
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The National Society of Newspaper Columnists "promotes professionalism and camaraderie among columnists and other writers of the serial essay, including bloggers."
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Professional Speechwriters Association
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According to its website, the Professional Speechwriters Association "provides training and community for speechwriters and other communication professionals."
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Sisters in Crime
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Sisters in Crime is a small non-profit business league of mainly women mystery writers. Its mission is to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers.
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Society of Professional Journalists
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The Society of Professional Journalists is "the nation's most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior."
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