I’m a big fan of email newsletters, both as a reader and a creator. I’ve been writing my own newsletter since 2010, sending the first one out to a whopping 27 people. These were mostly my family, close friends, and co-workers, so I was pretty sure it wouldn’t be seen as spam. But back then, the playing field was also a little less crowded.
These days, we all wake up to an inbox full of newsletters vying for our attention. I’ve signed up for plenty myself, usually because I’ve gotten a lot of value from the creator and want to make sure I don’t miss anything useful. Despite these best intentions, every morning I swipe left on many newsletters in my inbox, deleting them without even glancing through their content.
There are several exceptions, though.
Here are some of the newsletters I make a point to always read. They help me keep track of the news, get insights from some really smart people, and stay on top of important issues that investors are considering as they manage their money.
Daily News Updates
There has been an explosion in daily news summary emails in the past few years. They’re a great way to keep up with the headlines and stay in the loop when a topic comes up socially or professionally.
These are my favorites, but newsletters often have distinct personalities. Take a little time to find the one that’s right for you.
Morning Brew
Designed as much to entertain as to inform, Morning Brew is geared toward Generations X, Y, and Z. It goes beyond traditional market headlines and has an approachable manner that non-financial professionals will appreciate.
The Short Squeez
This daily email curates business and investing stories that will fuel conversations beyond the latest Fed minutes or ISM manufacturing report. If you’re looking for a daily dose of interesting articles, book recommendations, data visualizations, and funny memes, “The Short Squeez” has you covered.
The Bloomberg Open
I list this one last because it requires a paid subscription, but also because I’m not a proponent of the average investor obsessing over daily market headlines and commentary. That said, following these stories is part of my job, and “The Bloomberg Open” is usually the first market-related email I open in the morning.
Traditional Newsletters
Most email newsletters point you to another website, but these newsletters offer original content that stands alone and gives you everything you need right in your inbox.
The Intelligent Investor
As far as I’m concerned, Jason Zweig is the best financial writer around. This newsletter, named after his Wall Street Journal column, often points to one of his recent columns but explores additional ideas in a manner that only a newsletter format allows.
Each edition offers thoughtful commentary on a timely topic and usually includes interesting bits of history that market nerds can appreciate. And like any great newsletter writer, he shares links to the articles and other resources he’s found most informative at the WSJ and beyond.
The Better Letter
Long-time blogger Bob Seawright has always had a unique ability to weave pop culture references into information about making good investment decisions. Since starting his newsletter, he has been able to draw connections between the markets and an even wider range of subjects, including sports, politics, and life.
3-2-1
James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, offers the most concise and consistently insightful newsletter you will find. Every Thursday he shares three ideas, two quotes, and one question to consider. This is a surefire addition to your inbox.
Blog Updates
Some writers produce regular content I never want to miss. If you’re afraid you’ll forget to check your favorite blog, there is no easier way to ensure you see everything new than by subscribing to their updates. These are the few I find myself most excited about.
Abnormal Returns
No single blog and newsletter have made a greater impact in my finance education than “Abnormal Returns,” in which Tadas Viskanta curates the best blog posts, podcasts, and videos.
It’s never been easier to find information on retirement planning and investing, but it’s also never been more difficult to find reliable and unbiased information. Abnormal Returns is an excellent way to sort through the thousands of finance-related articles published every day.
The Novel Investor
This blog is dedicated to the journey of learning and sharing timeless investing wisdom. I like receiving the weekend email updates, which provides introductions to the author’s latest posts, as well as links to articles he has been reading.
The Collaborative Fund
I try my best to never miss anything Morgan Housel writes. His regular readers weren’t surprised at all that his first book was a smashing success. Morgan’s ability to reframe the way we think about money using relatable stories and insights from a wide range of disciplines is second to none.
Farnam Street
I couldn’t decide if this belonged in the traditional newsletter or blog update category because it’s a little of both. Whatever it is, it’s good. These weekly insights offer ideas and wisdom that aren’t just thought provoking, they’re actionable.
Seth Godin
Marketing guru Seth Godin has been writing a daily blog for longer than anyone else in this section. One of the things that makes him unique is that his posts are extremely short—sometimes just 100 words.
In a world where time always seems limited, this hits the sweet spot for people seeking valuable information for self-improvement and growth in bite-sized morsels.
Lessons Learned
As I said at the beginning of this post, I subscribe to a lot more email newsletters than those listed above. But these are the ones I read most frequently, and in some cases, religiously. Each has taught me a lot about investing and the world at large, but also about what makes a great newsletter.
That newsletter I started 11 years ago is now sent twice a month. It’s focused on introducing some of my latest work and sharing links to great articles I’ve been reading—many of which I originally discovered through one of the above sources.
If you’re interested in seeing my curated collection of insights and news, you can subscribe here:
If you ever have any questions, you can respond to any of the emails I send. Every reply goes straight to my inbox. I read and answer each one (though it sometimes takes me a while), so let me know what you’re thinking and reading.
