How We'll Collaborate

I'm an accomplished strategic communications consultant with a focus on strategic content development for highly regulated industries like finance. Through The Financial Content Architect, I work only with enterprise-level financial services institutions.

I understand the value of a well-defined collaboration structure. It's this structure that prevents misunderstandings, missed deadlines, budget overruns, invoicing disputes, and compliance errors. This organized process can ensure a mutually beneficial collaboration. 

I prioritize fostering strategic communications consulting collaborations that are both productive and enjoyable. My goal is to build thought partnerships that aren't just successful but also fulfilling for all the professionals involved.

So, below are some policies and procedures that I established over the years I've worked as an external communications consultant. They’re also based on continued legislative attempts of establish parameters for independent consultants.

For me, they are keys to our successful collaboration, no matter what project type we undertake. These parameters define our project from the concept to its execution.

I operate under Thrive Media, Inc. as an incorporated communications consultant. The Financial Content Architect is a division of Thrive Media.

I offer my solutions to multiple clients simultaneously, including those in the same sector or industry, under that corporation. I do not sign non-compete agreements.

The primary contact for my clients is a senior leader in your organization who has decision-making authority. So disputes are rarely an issue.

This independent consultant framework and work process below assures engagements that comply with existing state and federal laws and for both me and my clients. Here's an overview of my business framework.

As the managing principal for Thrive Media, the success and growth of my business depends wholly on the strategic and operational decisions I make for my enterprise. Our initial discussions will focus on how my expertise and your objectives align so that we may explore a mutually beneficial collaboration where my business gains new opportunities as I help you achieve your communications goals.

My role is one of an independent consultant, not a temporary employee, and my success depends directly on delivering valuable solutions and results for clients through my enterprise. So, our initial conversation is not just about identifying your needs but also about establishing the parameters of our professional relationship, and emphasizing the opportunity for mutual advantages of a thought partnership.

After the introductory call described under "Workflow Process," we'll outline the scope and investment required from both sides, ensuring clarity and mutual benefit. I will invoice you for any financial investment we agree upon through my corporation, and I will accept payment via its business bank account or other payment processor.

Whether it's a one-off writing or consulting project or a longer-term engagement, we define the scope and duration of our engagement in a formal contract. We only will work under a fully executed contract between your organization and my corporation, as defined further below.

I bring my expertise your organization as an independent consultant, without expecting guaranteed work from you. I work during the hours and from a remote location determined by me using tools and equipment I own and control. I rarely travel to client offices, but when I do, I require compensation for that travel and in office time. 

The detailed scope of work in our engagement agreement will further outline my independent work process while honoring mutual accountability. It also will articulate my intent to remain an independent contractor as defined by federal law. Thus, the nature and control remain collaborative, respecting our mutual organizational autonomy.

My offerings are customized to the specific strategic communications challenges you identify. Because you may not have professionals on staff with my unique skills, you've determined a need for my consultant expertise. But my services aren't integral to your day-to-day operations.

I'm a doctoral researcher with a master's in corporate communications and an award-winning multi-skilled journalist who's been an independent communications consultant for over 25 years. I bring a distinctive blend of scholarly rigor, professional skills and creative initiative to every project. That includes advanced analytical, problem-solving, strategic communications, and project management skills. The statement of work or other terms of our formal engagement agreement will outline many of those.

If you're interested in strategic thought leadership consulting, we start with a brief email exchange then a 15-30-minute introductory call. I provide no strategic insights in these email exchanges or during this call. Each only establishes what solutions you require, how I can provide them, and what your resources are, including staff and budget.

Senior or Managing Editors at respected mainstream media publications or reputable finance brands can email with their proposed writing assignment and we'll continue from there.

If your need is strictly strategic storytelling or journalism services, before I begin any work, we determine project scope, terms, statement of work, fees, and other standard aspects of editorial and strategic brand storytelling services. That includes fees for requested post-pitch or pre-writing outline work or conference calls before writing the complete content deliverable.

We establish these terms together to gain a mutually beneficial agreement about the solution you want me to provide. Again, we usually conduct this process by email.

If you want me to help you solve your external communications challenge, including related content strategy planning, after our introductory call, we would start our work together with paid consulting time. 

If your ask is for brainstorming or ideation (sometimes called "brain picking"), we establish a fee for those services, I invoice you, and you pay in full in advance for them.

The fee is a minimum of two hours of consulting time at my full consulting rate. Afterward, I provide a short report to you about what we discussed and how I suggest you move forward. This will be about two the three pages maximum and will not provide a comprehensive strategic communications plan.

That will require your investment in a Discovery Project with me.

If we agree a much more in depth paid discovery project (or communications assessment) is ideal, we establish a written, task-oriented scope for the project. I then provide you with a working quote and an invoice for prepayment in full.

Once we complete the discovery project (or communications assessment), I generate a project blueprint exclusive to your organization that's designed to meet your specific communications strategy objectives.

After you receive your strategic blueprint, if we agree I should to work with you to complete your strategic communications or content development project, I will provide the additional fees required to continue. 

Otherwise, you will have a strategic communications blueprint you can use to execute your project in-house or to hire another consultant for that work.

Before beginning any work on whatever solution you choose, we execute a detailed agreement between your organization and my corporation, Thrive Media, Inc.

After I review the contract, if I request no changes, I sign the document and get it back to you quickly so we can begin work. If the contract is more complex than I expected or have terms I don't fully understand, I may have it reviewed by experienced legal professionals.

Clients compensate me for all work I do. That includes outlines, and preliminary or final drafts of written content clients decide not to publish. Fees may be by the word or project depending on project type, scope, length, and volume of work requested from me by your organization. I may require retainers or payment schedules for larger projects.

Pre-engagement discussions or work constitutes consulting time. This includes any work before formal contract or written agreement related to any solutions offered here. Strategic conversations with your communications or marketing leaders, reviews of content or other materials related to your project, and interviews or discussions with your firm's principals about editorial content are all billable consulting time.

For pre-engagement work, I invoice for a minimum of two hours at my regular consulting rate, regardless of verbal agreements. Most clients find it more efficient to sign a written engagement agreement before beginning any work, which incorporates a maximum number of monthly hours for phone and email consulting time.

You can expect my fees to be market rate or higher for someone of my caliber. 

All narrative strategic communications or large volume content engagements require prepayment in full by bank ACH. I do not extend credit to private non-media organizations. I don't start work until payment clears Thrive Media's corporate bank account. Clients pay all ACH and transfer fees.

Fees and payment terms are established in a written contract between your organization and Thrive Media Inc. to prevent payment disputes. Since payment compensates for time already invested in your project, I don't provide refunds for any reason.

As an incorporated consultant, I'm not entirely dependent on any single organization for work. It's possible that during our initial interactions, we may find that we're not the right fit for each other. So, both parties reserve the right, in writing, to decline further engagement at any point before any compensable work starts.

The policies and procedures identified here may not include all those necessary for Thrive Media, Inc. to engage with a specific organization.

Written contracts supersede the policies on this page and any verbal (or email) agreements. These polices also may change or get expanded without notice, and I will implement those changes in writing in client relationships with The Financial Content Architect.

If you agree that this is the best way to work together, contact me about how we can collaborate on your project.