Help Wanted: Financial Writer/Editor.
Interests: The Web, Investing,
Helping/Teaching Others.

SMI is once again on the brink of "the next great new thing." Perhaps even more than the SMI website, this next project has the potential to radically alter (for the better!) the investing lives of at least a certain segment of SMI readers. Unfortunately, I can't say more about it just now, but hopefully we'll be able to explain fully in the fall.

What I can say is that it's very clear this effort is going to require ramping up our internal firepower. We need to bring someone on board who has the writing skills to help oversee the website as well as contribute articles to the print newsletter. They need an understanding of investing, so experience in the personal finance field is a plus. Most importantly, they must have a commitment to biblical principles and a heart for teaching/helping others in the body of Christ. The person who fills this position will occupy a key slot in SMI's current and future management team.

Before assuming you don't know anyone like that, consider my story. Six years ago, when an editorial with the same title as this one first graced the pages of SMI, I wasn't looking for a job. I already had one that I was reasonably happy with, so when a co-worker first gave me a copy of Austin's editorial I wasn't particularly interested. I had several years of tax/accounting experience and while I knew I wanted to transition into personal finance eventually, we'd just had our first baby and the time wasn't ideal to uproot my family and make a major career change. Deep inside though, I knew my comfortable job wasn't pointed where I wanted my life's efforts to go. I wanted to bring my talents and spiritual gifts into alignment with my passion, and fill my working hours knowing that what I was doing had eternal significance. Coming to SMI did that for me, and it can do it for you (or someone you know).

So, let me encourage you—don't dismiss this opportunity out of hand just because you (or a good friend or co-worker) aren't "looking for a job." Six years ago, I wasn't looking either. But after really opening our minds to new possibilities, flying to Louisville to meet Austin and his family, and praying for the Lord to show us the way, my wife and I took a small leap of faith. And as we hoped, the Lord has certainly blessed it!

While our SMI team expected the new website would be successful, none of us anticipated things working out quite like they did. In a case of comically bad timing, the new site launched just days after the Nasdaq hit its all-time high, and we spent our first three years battling through the worst bear market in a generation. Nevertheless, the Lord has helped us grow to our current size of nearly 7,000 web members. Along the way, the extra manpower has allowed us to pursue some great additions to the SMI service, such as:

• Better implementation of our core Upgrading strategy. Further research reinforced the importance of the monthly momentum rankings.

• New strategies. We've been able to add the Enhanced Just-the-Basics and Sector Rotation strategies, annual seasonality refinements, an "All-Clear" indicator, and "Bear alert" trend analysis. Most readers don't use all these tools, but they're handy for various readers at different times. (More information on these topics is available to web members on the Advanced Strategies page   of the SMI website.)

• Tools and features. In addition to a full redesign of the website in 2003 that incorporated dozens of reader suggestions, we've been able to add some key new features. Our 401(k) Fund Tracker, for example, already has more than 1,600 members using it since its debut earlier this year. The Editors' Daily Weblog  has also been a big hit, with more than 6,000 visitors per month dropping in to see what Austin and I are talking about between print issues.

What do these things have to do with ministry and matters of eternal significance? They're all designed to help our readers live out our mission statement for God's glory—having more so you can give more to His kingdom purposes. And based on the letters we receive, we know that's happening.

So there you have it. Our big new adventure down the road means we need to add a key member to the SMI team now. Perhaps the Lord will use you to help us do it! If this discussion kindles your personal interest, or brings someone else to mind, the contact information is below. Please join us in praying about this very important decision.

Send your resume and other information to applicant@soundmindinvesting.com.

• Historical Performance of Fund Upgrading
• SMI Bonus Report – Performance Momentum
  and SMI's Fund Upgrading Strategy [PDF] 
• SMI's Advanced Strategies 
• 401(k) Fund Tracker 
• Editors' Daily Weblog 
• SMI Editorials page

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