Case Study #1: Charles Schwab — Transforming Legacy TD Ameritrade Content

Challenge

When Charles Schwab acquired TD Ameritrade, they inherited a massive library of educational content: video courses, articles, and advanced options materials tied to the thinkorswim platform. The problem?

  • Much of it was off-brand compared to Schwab’s style and ethos.

  • Key employees who had written or appeared in the content were no longer with the firm.

  • Compliance required review of every update before publication.

Schwab needed a content specialist who understood complex derivatives strategies and the thinkorswim platform, while also being able to rewrite, rebrand, and streamline the material for compliance.

Solution

That’s where I came in. Working closely with Schwab’s internal team:

  • Rewrote video scripts and collaborated with designers to update visuals so they matched Schwab’s brand.

  • Edited and updated educational articles, ensuring tone, voice, and explanations were consistent with Schwab’s standards.

  • Reviewed online courses for factual accuracy and readability, modernizing outdated material.

  • Cleared all content through compliance, balancing speed with the need for precision.

Result

The project uncovered numerous factual errors and inconsistencies across the inherited content, a major risk to the firm’s credibility. By rewriting and rebranding:

  • All content was brought into line with Schwab’s tone and brand identity.

  • Compliance approval was secured, ensuring materials could be safely republished.

  • The firm retained valuable educational resources from TD Ameritrade while making them clearer, more accurate, and on-brand for Schwab’s audience.

Takeaway

This case study highlights the importance of financial expertise, educational storytelling, and compliance. For firms facing similar challenges with legacy or technical content, the right approach can preserve value, maintain compliance, and deliver a polished experience to clients.

Case Study #2: Robinhood — Preparing Investors for Index Options & Futures

Challenge

Robinhood was preparing to launch index options and futures trading on its platform. While the company’s Learn center already contained educational resources on stocks and equity options, it lacked the nuanced content investors needed to understand:

  • The differences between cash-settled index options and physically settled equity options.

  • How index futures differ from stock and options trading.

  • The unique risks, mechanics, and terminology associated with these products.

Internal subject-matter experts were focused on product development and launch events, leaving little bandwidth to produce educational content. Robinhood needed a contractor who could both understand derivatives and produce clear, compliance-ready education materials on a tight timeline.

Solution

Rule1120 partnered with Robinhood on a five-month engagement to:

  • Edit and rewrite educational articles, online course materials, and video scripts.

  • Collaborate with the design team to create visuals for explainer videos.

  • Coordinate with compliance and marketing teams to finalize materials for publication, managing iterative feedback efficiently.

  • Support product launch communications by preparing scripts, articles, and presentations for Robinhood’s unveiling of options and futures trading.

Result

The engagement produced:

  • Two complete series of articles covering index options and index futures.

  • Videos that explained futures trading concepts in clear, accessible language.

  • Presentation-ready content that contributed to a successful product launch event.

Robinhood entered the market with educational resources that were not only accurate and compliant, but also client-ready and engaging — ensuring investors had a stronger foundation to understand new derivatives offerings.

Takeaway

This project demonstrates Rule1120’s ability to translate complex derivatives into accessible, compliance-ready education, even under tight timelines. By combining subject-matter expertise with editorial skill, we helped Robinhood enhance its Learn center and support a major product launch.

Case Study #3: Mercer Advisors — Making Financial Guidance Clear & Compliant

Challenge

Mercer Advisors’ financial advisors brought deep subject-matter expertise to the table, but their written communications often missed the mark. Content tended to be too technical for retail investors, inconsistent across contributors, and not always compliance-ready.

The firm needed support producing content that could serve two critical audiences:

  • Advisors internally, who required timely insights and educational resources to support their practices.

  • Clients externally, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth investors, who expected clear, engaging, and practical guidance.

Mercer needed a content partner who could balance accuracy, readability, and compliance while also creating original materials on timely financial topics.

Solution

Rule1120 collaborated with Mercer’s managing editor and social media manager to:

  • Edit advisor-authored commentary to make complex strategies accessible to retail investors while preserving technical accuracy.

  • Provide structured feedback and revisions that improved clarity, tone, and compliance alignment.

  • Ensure dual-purpose value by tailoring content for both advisor education and client-facing distribution.

  • Develop original articles on topics such as cybersecurity, tax planning, and financial literacy, expanding the breadth of Mercer’s educational offerings.

Result

The engagement produced a steady stream of multi-purpose content that:

  • Was widely read and shared internally among Mercer’s network of advisors.

  • Reached clients directly, helping advisors communicate timely financial strategies in a clear, engaging way.

  • Strengthened Mercer’s ability to position itself as a trusted partner, delivering educational content that was both compliance-ready and client-friendly

Takeaway

This project highlights Rule1120’s ability to bridge advisor expertise and client understanding. By combining editorial skill with knowledge of financial regulations, we helped Mercer Advisors deliver content that supported its advisors, educated its clients, and reinforced its reputation for clear, trustworthy communication.

Case Study #4: Optionetics — Reframing a Brand in Crisis

Solution

Partner with the firm’s PR agency to:

  • Develop messaging that highlighted Optionetics’ strengths, transparency, and client commitment.

  • Craft bylined articles, press releases, and talking points positioning executives as thought leaders.

  • Coordinate outreach to targeted financial and business media outlets, reframing the company’s long-term strategy.

  • Prepare materials for conference presentations to strengthen credibility with both customers and industry peers.

Challenge

Optionetics, a financial and options trading education company, faced mounting negative reviews, customer dissatisfaction, and poor press coverage. This created a serious problem for a business model that relied on upselling satisfied clients: customer attrition threatened profitability and long-term viability.

To turn things around, the company needed to regain credibility and reshape its public narrative in trusted financial and business media.

Result

The engagement helped retain clients and add existing ones:

  • Secured placements in a broad range of reputable financial and business publications.

  • Shifted coverage tone from negative to balanced and constructive.

  • Reinforced the company’s credibility with clients and stakeholders by emphasizing expertise and educational content.

  • Helped transition the firm from a reactive communications posture to a proactive, strategic one.

Takeaway

This case study demonstrates Rule1120’s ability to reshape narratives under pressure. By aligning editorial skill with strategic messaging, we helped a financial education brand recover from reputational challenges and rebuild trust with clients and the market. In the process, we developed a strong network within financial journalism and publishers that can help you find ways to get positive media coverage in good times and bad.