Michael Schlenger - German Specialist Translator with Professional Expertise in Asset Management

Clear client communication: An ongoing challenge for investment managers

Asset management is probably the most sophisticated field of the financial business. Asset managers operate in highly dynamic markets, they pursue elaborate investment strategies, employ complex instruments and use abstract risk and reward metrics.

Thus, communicating economic and market developments, portfolio strategies and characteristics, performance and risk issues towards clients is a demanding task. This applies even more, if the information is to be translated into a foreign language. 

Translating: Requires superior language skills and in-depth specialist knowledge

There is an abundance of financial translators with excellent language skills. Very few, however, are truly familiar with the world of asset management, its peculiarities, and - not least - its distinct jargon.

For instance, fund commentaries and product presentations are often prepared by specialists with little contact to sales partners and clients. They often presuppose expert knowledge of market developments, financial instruments, and product characteristics. They include lots of abbbreviations, metaphors and allusions. One needs to be conversant with this insider code to grasp the full meaning.

Customizing the message: A crucial aspect of translating

The ultimate challenge of translating is not only to find the technically correct vocabulary in the target language, but also to strike the right note. An experienced translator considers the cultural background, the excpectations, and the knowledge of the intended reader. Then he carefully chooses his words to convey the message in a clear and customized manner.

An ideal translation addresses the reader, as if the original text was written in his language and for his particular need. This often requires putting things differently or more precisely than in the original text while omitting specifics that would confuse the reader.

Distinguished clients explicitly want the translator to engage actively, in order to get the best possible result for the targeted audience. Therefore, their first choice is a native speaker with both superior language skills and proven industry expertise.  

Investment writing expertise: Ensures premium translations into German

The best way to avoid the many traps associated with financial translations is to rely on an industry insider who has longstanding experience in writing texts on financial issues in the target language, and who is perfectly familiar with the expectations of different client types.

With almost 15 years of experience as an investment writer - more than 10 of which with a leading German asset manager - I am able to provide you the quality you expect when it comes to the translation of client communication in German-speaking countries.

Be it market or portfolio reviews, performance commentaries or economic outlooks, advertorials or product presentations, I offer you first-rate translations from English into German, as well as proofreading and editing services in German.

For translation requests and work samples, please click here.

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