Client Report
Workflow
Step 1: Report Parameters
- Client name and household
- Reporting period: Quarter, YTD, annual, custom range
- Accounts: All accounts or specific account
- Benchmark: S&P 500, 60/40 blend, custom benchmark matching IPS
- Firm branding: Logo, colors, disclaimers
Step 2: Performance Summary
Household Summary:
| QTD | YTD | 1-Year | 3-Year Ann. | 5-Year Ann. | ITD Ann. |
|---|
| Portfolio | | | | | | |
| Benchmark | | | | | | |
| +/- | | | | | | |
By Account:
| Account | Type | Value | QTD | YTD | Benchmark |
|---|
| Joint Taxable | Brokerage | | | | |
| John IRA | Traditional | | | | |
| Jane Roth | Roth IRA | | | | |
| 529 Plan | Education | | | | |
| Total | | | | | |
Step 3: Allocation Overview
Current allocation with visual (pie chart or bar chart):
| Asset Class | % of Portfolio | $ Value | Benchmark % |
|---|
| | | |
Step 4: Holdings Detail
| Security | Asset Class | Shares | Price | Value | % of Portfolio | QTD Return |
|---|
| | | | | | |
Step 5: Market Commentary
Brief market summary tailored to the client's level of sophistication:
- What happened in markets this quarter (2-3 sentences)
- How it affected the portfolio
- Outlook and positioning rationale (2-3 sentences)
- No jargon for retail clients; can be more technical for sophisticated investors
Step 6: Activity Summary
- Trades executed during the period
- Contributions and withdrawals
- Dividends and interest received
- Fees charged
- Rebalancing activity
Step 7: Planning Notes
- Progress toward financial goals (retirement, education, etc.)
- Any plan changes or recommendations
- Upcoming action items
- Next review date
Step 8: Output
- PDF report (8-12 pages) with firm branding
- Word document for customization
- Excel data appendix (optional)
Report Structure:
- Cover page (client name, period, firm logo)
- Executive summary (1 page)
- Performance summary (1-2 pages)
- Allocation overview with charts (1 page)
- Holdings detail (1-2 pages)
- Market commentary (1 page)
- Activity summary (1 page)
- Planning notes (1 page)
- Disclosures and disclaimers (1 page)
Important Notes
- Performance must be calculated net of fees unless client/compliance requires gross
- Always include appropriate disclaimers and disclosures (past performance, risk factors)
- Reports should be consistent across clients — use a standard template
- Match the level of detail to the client — some want every holding, others want a one-page summary
- Benchmark selection matters — use the benchmark from the IPS, not whatever looks best
- Review for compliance approval before first distribution of a new template