In a sector built on trust, long-term vision, and regulatory nuance, marketing and PR aren’t just about visibility – they’re about credibility. Whether you’re an investment firm, pension provider, or an advisor, the question often arises: should we use an internal PR and marketing team, or partner with an external agency?
For many in the pensions and investment space, the smart money is on partnering with a specialist agency. Here’s why…
The pensions and investment industry isn’t your average market. Messaging must balance technical accuracy with clarity, meet regulatory standards, and still resonate with diverse audiences – from trustees and institutional investors to everyday retirees and fund members.
A specialist PR and marketing agency understands these nuances. You get access to seasoned professionals who know how to craft compliant, compelling communications – without the learning curve or risk of missteps.
In-house teams are also often so close to the brand that they lose sight of how the outside world sees it. Agencies bring an external lens, helping you spot blind spots, shake up stale messaging, and identify new opportunities. They’ve worked across the industry, seen what works (and what doesn’t), and bring those insights to your table – no tunnel vision included.
Building an in-house marketing function from scratch can be expensive. You’ll need content creators, PR professionals, compliance-savvy copywriters, digital marketers, and so much more. And finding those people with specific financial services experience? Even harder. Also hiring internally isn’t just about salaries – it’s benefits, training, equipment, software, turnover, and more. Agencies come ready to roll, and you only pay for what you need. You also avoid the risk of a bad hire or needing to rebuild a team after turnover. Agencies manage their own staffing, so you don’t have to.
With an agency, you instantly tap into a full ecosystem of talent – strategists, writers, designers, PR experts, publicists, SEO specialists, and so on. That’s not just a budget win; it’s a brainpower win. Agencies provide all of that in one package, without the ongoing overheads, recruitment headaches, or HR risks.
In a world where being quoted in the press, or attending an event, builds trust and recognition, media relationships matter now more than ever. Established agencies bring long-standing connections with journalists, industry publications, and analysts that your internal team simply can’t match, especially if you’re just starting out or if your team regularly changes.
An agency knows how to pitch your story in a way that cuts through the noise, and earns credibility, not just clicks. They can get you access to awards, events, roundtables – that insider access can make all the difference between getting buried and getting noticed.
It’s easy to stick with “how things have always been done” in the pensions world. But the industry is changing – digitisation, AI, ESG considerations, intergenerational planning, and financial literacy are reshaping the landscape.
An external agency brings a fresh, strategic perspective to topics they see and write about every day. They can help modernise your brand, sharpen your message, and ensure you’re speaking to the right audience in the right way – without losing your professional footing or losing sight of where you came from.
Regulatory timelines, economic shifts, and market trends often require a rapid response or reactive campaigns. Agencies are built to move quickly. Whether it’s creating a whitepaper, launching a thought leadership campaign, or responding to breaking news, they can act faster than an internal team that’s juggling multiple responsibilities or approvals.
Need to scale up quickly for a product launch? Or slow down during a slower season? An agency adapts with you. You’re not locked into full-time salaries or weighed down by lengthy hiring processes. Whether it’s one campaign or ongoing support, agencies can dial the volume up or down based on your needs.
This kind of agility is especially valuable in today’s unpredictable market conditions.
Agencies work on deliverables and objectives. They track performance, report on ROI, and are used to being held accountable – something that’s often more complex with internal teams spread across functions. When your board wants results, an agency can show exactly what’s been achieved. Great agencies operate with monthly reporting. Their job is to prove their worth and they’re motivated to keep earning your business. That kind of performance-driven mindset brings a level of accountability that’s harder to enforce with an internal team.
The pensions and investment industry demands a different kind of storytelling; one rooted in trust, foresight, and integrity. A PR and marketing agency that knows your sector can help you elevate your voice, extend your reach, and build lasting stakeholder confidence.
Why settle for a few internal hires when you could have a strategic partner with the firepower of an entire team?
While in-house teams offer deep brand immersion, the strategic advantages, flexibility, and breadth of expertise that agencies provide are hard to ignore. Whether you’re a start-up looking to make a splash or an established business ready to scale, the right agency can be your secret weapon for smarter, faster, and more impactful growth.
Ready to elevate your brand? Partner with a PR and marketing agency that moves as fast as your ambition, like KBPR.
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