Sales & Marketing | 03.04.26
Make Your Submission Shine: 5 Tips for Aspiring BISA Contributors
by: BISA Staff
As the leading financial services association serving professionals across the financial services industry, BISA provides platforms for leaders to share knowledge, elevate critical conversations and shape the future of our profession. Have insight into the latest industry trends? An idea for addressing upcoming regulatory updates? BISA invites you to showcase your expertise by submitting to the 2026 issue of Portfolio Magazine or year-round through Portfolio Online.
Whether your content appears in the annual print magazine or online, strong submissions share a few important qualities. If you’re considering contributing — or recommending a contributor — here are five tips to guide your submission.
1. Start with the Takeaway
Before drafting anything, write one sentence that captures your core message.
Ask yourself: “What should a CEO, CCO or sales manager walk away knowing after reading this?”
A clear takeaway ensures your article delivers meaningful value to BISA’s audience of senior decision-makers.
2. Think Bigger Than Your Organization
Portfolio content is designed to advance the broader industry conversation.
The strongest submissions:
- Address emerging trends in the bank and credit union channel
- Explore regulatory or compliance implications
- Examine advisor development, succession planning or talent strategy
- Break down research findings and their practical impact
Present a challenge. Offer insight. Provide solutions. Keep the perspective broad and educational rather than centered on one company or product.
3. Make It Strategic and Actionable
BISA’s primary audience includes CEOs, presidents, chief compliance officers, wealth managers, trust department managers and sales leaders. These professionals are responsible for growth, performance and risk management who value ideas they can act on.
As you draft your submission, consider:
- What practical steps can leaders take?
- What questions should they bring to their next executive meeting?
- What frameworks or metrics should they evaluate?
Clear, applicable guidance will always stand out.
4. Ground Advice in Real Experience
Whenever possible, base your insights on real-world challenges and outcomes.
You might share:
- Lessons learned from navigating regulatory change
- A shift in leadership strategy that improved performance
- Observations from working across multiple institutions
- Patterns emerging in talent development or technology adoption
Specific examples resonate more deeply than hypotheticals.
5. Choose How You Want to Help Shape the Conversation
For the annual Portfolio Magazine, BISA is inviting expert input from key decision-makers across financial institutions — not only article submissions, but also recommendations.
You can:
- Propose timely issues that deserve attention
- Recommend contributors whose perspectives would add depth and relevance
- Indicate your own interest in contributing
If a contributor is selected, BISA’s editorial team will collaborate closely to develop the article — whether through interviews or by supporting the writing process. You don’t have to do it alone.
The deadline to provide recommendations for the 2026 annual magazine is Friday, March 13.
Ready to Get Started? Share Your Expertise in 2026
Contributing to Portfolio — whether in print or online — is an opportunity to elevate your voice and influence industry dialogue. By sharing your perspective, recommending a contributor or helping identify critical issues, you play a role in strengthening the bank and credit union channel.
Submissions and recommendations are now open for the 2026 issue of Portfolio Magazine, with a deadline of Friday, March 13 for annual magazine input.
If you have insight that can help leaders think more strategically, act more decisively and navigate complexity with confidence, now is the time to share it.
Not Quite Ready to Submit? Opportunities Extend Year-Round
In addition to the annual magazine, BISA publishes original articles throughout the year on Portfolio Online.
Some proposed topics may be directed to the digital platform, and article ideas and submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. If you have a timely topic or emerging insight, Portfolio Online may be the ideal venue to share it quickly with peers.
Questions about submissions or the editorial process can be directed to portfolio@bisanet.org.