Financial copywriters, there’s a NEW way to fast-track your way to the top of the industry…

The World’s Most Successful Financial Publisher, MarketWise, Is Sharing Its $100m+ In-House Copy Training Program

  • Get insider access to the copy secrets that generate $100 million-plus every year…

  • One-on-one mentorship from in-house writers…

  • And the chance to pitch your work directly to copy chiefs who are actually hiring new writers

Fellow Copywriter,

This is your chance…

The biggest financial publisher in the world, MarketWise—the parent company of Stansberry Research, InvestorPlace, TradeSmith, Chaikin Analytics, Altimetry, Brownstone Research and many more…

Is officially looking for new copywriters.

In the financial copywriting world, this is big news.

As big as it gets.

Anyone who’s been in the industry for 10 minutes will tell you: MarketWise is the very pinnacle of the market. There’s no bigger, better or more successful business.

With more than 200 staff across its operations… 60 different publications… and 50-plus different gurus to work with… nowhere else even comes close.

Over the past five years, it’s generated more than $2 billion in sales. And every single year, MarketWise pays out millions of dollars in royalties to copywriters (more than $6.7 million in 2024 alone).

And today, the world’s No.1 financial publisher is officially opening its doors to the NEXT generation of copywriters

There’s just one twist…

A NEW pathway just opened… a way to fast-track your copywriting career and massively increase your chances of becoming the next copywriter MarketWise hires.

It’s unlike anything you’ve seen before.

And the only place you’ll hear about it is right here, on this page.

In fact, this approach is changing how the entire financial publishing industry finds, trains, and recruits new copywriters.

Put simply…

It’s a way for you to gain insider access to copywriting secrets and techniques that have generated over a billion dollars in sales…

…get one-on-one mentorship from financial copywriters making millions of dollars for MarketWise, to develop your copy skills…

…and then pitch your best ideas directly to the copy chiefs who are genuinely looking to hire new writers.

It’s a level of training and access that’s never been possible in the past.

Oh, and it’s totally free.

There’s no entry fee.

There are no upsells. No courses or books to buy. No need to cough up thousands for a new mentoring program.

You won’t pay a dime for this... today, tomorrow, or ever.

In other words, MarketWise is sharing its in-house training program… with just 12 up-and-coming new writers.

Why?

There’s one purpose, and one purpose only:

To find the world’s best up-and-coming copywriters… and fast-track your career

If you have ambitions to become a successful financial copywriter, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for.

You already have questions, I know.

I’m going to answer them—and show you exactly what you need to do to be a part of this.

But first, I want to “start with why” and explain how this all came about.

My name is Nick O’Connor.

I’ve been a copywriter for 15 years, driving (conservatively) $100 million in sales for financial publishers.

I’ve written control promotions for MarketWise and at least six other financial publishers, on three different continents.

For five years, I ran Bill Bonner’s Agora business in London.

In that time, I’ve hired and trained dozens of writers. I also founded a successful copywriting network called The Fix (more on this in a second).

Not so long ago, I found myself sitting in Bill Bonner’s French chateau with some of the MarketWise leadership team (I’ll have to save that story for another time).

We were talking about talent.

Specifically, we were talking about how hard it is to find truly talented new copywriters.

It’s not the first time I’ve had a conversation like this with a big financial publisher.

This is one of the strangest paradoxes of our industry.

There’s always a chronic shortage of good writers… despite the fact that there are literally thousands of people out there who are trying to break into the industry.

It’s a constant source of frustration for everyone.

Every single publishing business I know is constantly looking for new copy talent.

And there are plenty of people out there—like you—who want in.

But somehow… we’ve never quite found a way to solve the problem.

Until now

That’s what our conversation at the chateau was all about.

We decided to come up with a radically different new approach to finding and developing talent.

Instead of spending months combing through thousands of resumes and taking a chance on a couple of new writers…

We decided to do something different… and invite a whole class of up-and-coming copywriters to spend 12 weeks with us, learning every copywriting secret we have… to see how the world’s best financial copywriters do it from the inside… and learn from the best in the industry.

In other words…

It’s a totally new way of turbo-charging your progress and breaking into the very top industry

We call it the Financial Copy U… or FCU for short.

And believe me, you’ve never seen anything quite like it before.

It’s going to give you access to ideas, training, mentorship, and market intelligence that, until now, you’d have to be an insider at a big financial publisher to access.

For instance…

  • You’ll get in depth copywriting masterclasses from legendary copywriters like Mike Palmer (the man who wrote End of America), teaching you how the essential skills all MarketWise writers need to succeed, like how to find and craft an idea… how to write a killer headline… how to develop a million-dollar webinar… and much more.

  • You’ll get live, ongoing, one-on-one copywriting mentoring and regular constructive feedback from real financial copywriters (not wannabe gurus who talk big on the Internet but haven’t had a hit promotion since 2018).

  • You’ll get up-to-the-minute intelligence and analysis of what’s really working across the entire MarketWise business.

  • You’ll get your own LIVE MarketWise copy project to work on—a chance to create your own promotion for one of its products, with access to the research and gurus behind the product.

  • You’ll get introductions to key MarketWise editors, experts, and members of the leadership team—and real-world insights into what it really takes to succeed at the very pinnacle of the industry.

  • You’ll make connections with other up-and-coming writers—you’ll be part of a class of 12 who will learn and improve together.

  • And most importantly of all… at the end of the 12 weeks, you’ll get the chance to pitch your best work directly to copy chiefs who are actively hiring.

Put simply, you’ll get 12 weeks of intensive, expert training designed to fast-track your progress and take you from “full of potential” to “ready to hire”.

Because that’s the big chasm that so many writers struggle to cross, isn’t it?

If you’ve been trying to break into the industry for any length of time, you’ll know this. You might have the raw talent you need. You may even have had some encouraging words of praise from people in the industry.

But that isn’t enough.

To truly succeed… you need training.

Not some crappy online copy course (most of which aren’t worth your time).

Not a book or a guide.

And not a conference or a two-day bootcamp.

None of that stuff works.

The only surefire way to succeed is to find a mentor… get honest, direct feedback… and spend months immersed in the world of copywriting.

And that’s what the FCU is all about.

We could charge $10,000 for training like this… but instead, we’re giving it away FOR FREE

Why?

Why would any business agree to give away its training program, at no cost, to up-and-coming writers?

Because like I said, there’s no reliable way to find and hire new copy talent using “conventional” means (asking for resumes, running interviews, etc).

So, the MarketWise leadership asked me to try something radically unconventional.

We train writers BEFORE they get hired.

This has several advantages, to both you and to the MarketWise business.

It gives you the chance to develop your skills and accelerate your progress by working with the best writers in the industry…

And it gives MarketWise the chance to watch you progress over 12 weeks of training and instruction.

Believe me, this is a much better way to uncover new talent.

I’ve trained a lot of great writers in my career. Very few of them were brilliant on “Day 1.” Almost all of them took time for things to click. In fact, a lot of them (me included) knew nothing about financial copywriting when they were first hired.

In other words, talent takes time.

At FCU, you’ll have that time

But I should be clear about how this is all going to work…

First up, cards on the table:

It won’t be easy.

You will have to spend a lot of time thinking about ideas.

You will have to spend a lot of time writing copy.

And you will have to spend a lot of time rewriting your copy.

I’ll tell you now: No one writes perfect copy the first time. Not you. Not me. No one.

Good copy is written and rewritten and rewritten and rewritten, over and over and over again.

And that doesn’t even account for the time you’ll need to spend working on your copy BEFORE you even write a single word.

In fact, that might be the biggest mistake most financial copywriting hopefuls make…

They write before they know what they’re writing about.

If you’re thinking that applies to you, don’t worry. It’s the case with 99% of people out there.

Even The End of America spent years as an idea before Porter Stansberry and Mike Palmer brought it to life in the era-defining sales promotion everyone went crazy over.

Anyone who tells you learning to write financial copy is fast or easy is lying to you.

Worse, if you come into the industry with that mindset, copy chiefs will spot you coming a mile away.

And they’ll ignore you completely.

Instead, in the FCU, you’ll learn how to write financial copy the right way, so that copy chiefs instantly recognise you’ve got what it takes.

But you need to know this will NOT be a walk in the park.

This is a serious opportunity for serious people.

Of course, on the flipside of that… the reward here is serious too.

Arguably, there isn’t a better reward in our industry… we’re talking about getting a permanent job with the most respected financial publisher in the business…

We’re talking about working alongside the cream of the crop and setting yourself on the path to becoming a future financial copywriting superstar.

Writing financial copy for MarketWise is the fastest way to mark yourself out as part of the elite.

And look, though this will be hard work, you’ll get a lot of help too.

The 12-week FCU program has been designed to give you the most complete, most impactful, and most time-effective introduction—and acceleration—through the best copywriter training process there has ever been.

It’s based on decades of working day in, day out with copywriters, some of whom are now masters themselves, working at businesses like Stansberry, Agora, Paradigm, Oxford Club, Porter & Co., and for some of the biggest household-name brands in the world.

I don’t think there is a better, or more realistic way, to get the training you need to break into the business… and certainly not at a powerhouse like MarketWise.

If you join the FCU, you’ll receive the best training in the business 

You’ll get:

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO TUTORIALS:
Discover everything you need to know about how to write successful copy in the financial publishing industry

On a day-to-day basis, the core of your tutoring will be delivered over a combination of video tutorials and one-to-one reviews with me and my business partner, Glenn Fisher.

Remember I mentioned The Fix? I found it with Glenn. He’s one of the biggest names in copywriting, having worked with the likes of Bill Bonner and Mark Ford for decades, not to mention some of the biggest above-the-line brands in the world.

He even wrote a best-selling book about direct response, which was so popular it was shortlisted for Business Book of the Year and has been translated into Chinese and Korean.

The best news? He’ll be tutoring you alongside me in the FCU, both in person and through the videos.

Indeed, the video tutorials will cover everything you need to know about financial publishing, generating ideas, writing copy, and editing copy.

You’ll learn:

  • The proven framework I use to spot and capture blockbuster frontend ideas that generate thousands of sales.

  • How to research your big idea so that it stands out and doesn’t just read like a Frankenstein mashed together from other people’s swipe files.

  • What financial publishers and copy chiefs are REALLY looking for in new copywriters (it’s not what you’ve been told).

  • How to write a webinar or interview-style promotion that’s perfect for trading services and high-priced backends (you’ll be learning directly from THE BEST writer I know at doing this).

  • What kind of ideas are working today, and how to find the next ones likely to work next.

  • How to find 10 new, compelling ways to tell your story, even if you’ve got writer’s block.

And so much more.

These tutorials will give you the knowledge you need to get ahead and deal with a lot of the theory and fundamentals that are essential for any copywriter hoping to seriously make it in the financial publishing industry.

But naturally, theory and fundamentals alone won’t get you where you need to be, or where you want to be.

It’s why these video tutorials will be complemented by regular one-on-one reviews with us.

ONE-ON-ONE PEER REVIEWS:
Work directly and intimately with two of the most respected copywriters in the world 

Sure, there are some good books and one or two good courses out there, which can help you get on in this game.

But mostly, they suck.

The truth is: to really succeed, you need to be able to spend quality time with people who’ve been there, done that. Only that way can you identify and improve in the areas that will be specific to you.

It might be that you’re great at coming up with ideas, but you’re not so hot at turning them into headlines…

Or it might be that you’re on fire when it comes to writing leads with engaging hooks, but when it comes to writing an offer at the close, you lose it completely.

By working so closely with me and Glenn, we’ll be able to figure out where you’re good and where you need some extra support. It means we can tailor our tutoring and the live sessions to make sure you come out of the process balanced and the most employable version of yourself you can be.

Sometimes the reviews will be live online. Sometimes we might record a video just for you, maybe line-editing some copy or digging into a specific area you’re struggling with.

Either way, you’ll get to work with super-experienced copywriting masters, just as you would work with a copy chief once you’re inside the company.

And while we’re talking about being on the inside, you’ll also get access to...

SPECIAL GUEST LECTURES:
Get to hear what it takes directly from the very best in the business 

I’m talking about people who’ve been around for 10-plus years, writing control after control, and generating tens of millions of dollars in sales.

No, I’m not going to “name drop” here. That’s because the best copywriters in the world don’t have a social media brand. They’re not out there on LinkedIn or YouTube bragging about their sales (there’s nothing worse). They’re busy writing copy, mentoring in-house writers, or growing the business.

That said, the roster of A-list, superstar copywriters who write for the different businesses under MarketWise is insane.

Ask anyone in the financial publishing industry which copywriters they admire the most, and chances are they’re on that list.

It’s why, if you make it into the FCU, you’ll get to hear directly from these legends.

In a combination of scheduled and ad hoc sessions over the 12 weeks you’ll be with us, you’ll get to listen in to live sessions with A-listers as they share their insight into what it takes to be a superstar financial copywriter and, more importantly, what it takes to get a job with MarketWise.

Because remember… that’s the aim here.

You’re joining us for these 12 weeks with the express goal of getting a permanent gig alongside these very legends.

This really is the No.1 path into financial copywriting, and you could set yourself on it today when you apply to join the FCU.

And if you’re successful, you’ll join the next 12-week class, which kicks off on Monday, February 23. 

LIVE ONLINE FEEDBACK SESSIONS:
Learn what it’s really like to be a part of a billion-dollar copy team

Every week, you’ll join us live online to talk about your copy, discuss ideas, and share insight into the world of financial publishing.

This will be hosted by me and Glenn, and you’ll be joined by the other copywriters in your class.

We’ve been doing this a while now, and I can tell you that during these live sessions, you’ll receive some of the most compelling insights and most impactful “aha” moments of your career.

Whether it’s your ideas being discussed, or another writer’s, when you see the copy there on the screen, and you have a trusted group of peers offering feedback and advice…

Frankly, it’s the only true way to learn how to write good copy. And it’s as close as possible to the reality of how feedback sessions and peer reviews work in MarketWise.

And here’s another element of the FCU that you simply can’t recreate with any other avenue into financial copywriting…

REAL COPYWRITING BRIEFS:
Work on active MarketWise campaigns that could be tested in the market 

Be clear…

The FCU isn’t some hypothetical pre-packaged course that aims to teach what it might be like working as a financial copywriter.

This isn’t a hit-and-hope situation where you work for weeks on a piece of spec copy hoping that a copy chief from Stansberry MIGHT look at it if you’re lucky.

And this isn’t even a situation where a respected copywriter in the industry is offering you the chance of a hook-up (even though chances are they’re not as connected as they make out).

The FCU is sponsored and officially endorsed by MarketWise…

“Great copy is the lifeblood of any financial publishing business and finding great copywriters who can produce million-dollar sales campaigns is one of my most important jobs. That’s why I’ve given Nick and Glenn a very simple mission: Go find me some more copywriters! And after many chats about the best way to do this, together, we’ve created the first true Financial Copy U. If you want to be successful in this space, joining us at MarketWise is perhaps your best chance of achieving that. And investing your time in the Financial Copy U programme is the best way to get your foot in the door here at MarketWise.”

Brett Aitken, Publisher, MarketWise

We have created the FCU with the express aim of hiring future financial copywriting stars for MarketWise.

A lot of them, if we can.

And that means you’ll get access to MarketWise in a way that you can’t find anywhere else.

It means as part of your training, you’ll receive real copywriting briefs for live campaigns that are running in the market for businesses under the MarketWise name.

You might write a lift note for the latest Chakin Analytics promo…

Or you might be asked to attempt a special renewal for Altimetry…

Or you could even be tasked with working on a re-lead for a Stansberry Research promo written by someone like Mike Palmer or Justin Gershwin.

This isn’t theoretical stuff…

It’s real.

You’ll be working on copy that has the potential to go out and be used in the market.

(And if it does work, you’ll be compensated for it, just like any other copywriter would be.)

But let’s not pretend otherwise, this is all really aiming toward one thing…

INTRODUCING:
THE MARKETWISE FCU DRAFT
Get a full-time gig working for the most successful financial publisher in the world

This is what it’s all working toward.

It’s an opportunity like no other, and it’s simply not an opportunity you can find anywhere else in the market.

I could list the names of all the big copywriting gurus out there—you know them all, I’m sure—but not a single one of them can offer this.

The FCU is your only way in.

How does it work?

Well, just like the draft pick in the NFL, when it comes to the end of your semester in the FCU, you’ll go into a draft, which could land you a full-time job.

Each of the MarketWise businesses will get to select writers from the class they’d like to work with and will make offers to them for employment.

Now, let me be clear:

Being in the draft does NOT guarantee you a job with any of the MarketWise businesses.

Obviously not.  

It may be that there’s just not the right fit for you, or it might be that after 12 weeks with us, you still need more development before you’re ready to go into a business full-time.

But, come the end of your 12 weeks of training, one of two things will happen:

1)   You get a job within MarketWise

Most likely, this will be a full-time position as a junior writer, giving you the chance to get more mentorship, training, and the chance to develop your skills further, all while getting paid for it.

This is, obviously, what we all want to happen.

It’s the whole point of this project.

But not everyone can succeed.

If you don’t get a job…

2)   Your copy skills will be exponentially stronger after 12 weeks with us—giving you a much better chance of landing a job elsewhere

In such cases, you’ll have options.

If we think you’d fit well in another business, we might connect you that way.

Or else if we think there’s a specific area you need to train more on, we’ll advise what we can do to help you keep developing.

Obviously, it’s ultimately your call where you choose to step next.

But that’s the aim here: to get you selected in the draft… to get you up to speed over 12 weeks so that you can hit the ground running in a business like Stansberry, Altimetry, Chaikin, Investor Place, Brownstone, or TradeSmith.

And of course, the financial payoff here could be huge.

I’m not going to make false promises or be hyperbolic here—I don’t need to be.

As a full-time copywriter with MarketWise, you’ll be paid an incredibly competitive salary, and all the rest…

Plus, there’s the frankly unlimited upside of royalties depending on how successful your copy is.

Ultimately, you’re looking in the tens of thousands a year where royalties are concerned.

In some cases, you could be looking in the hundreds of thousands.

Remember, MarketWise is a $280 million-plus company, and a sales promotion you write for them has the potential to generate millions in the market.

Last year alone, they paid out more than $5 million in royalties to copywriters just like you.

Essential details—read before applying

You don’t need to quit your job to take part in the FCU.

Though this will be an intense and thorough programme, you won’t be paid a stipend or receive any compensation for studying with us.

Instead, we’ve designed it so you can manage the work around a full-time job you currently have, or freelance projects you might be taking on during the course.

However, a key element we encourage you to participate in are the live online review calls. These will take place every Wednesday at 9.00 am Eastern Time. You should arrange to be free for one hour at this time every week during the course.

We will record these calls, so if you really can’t make one of them due to something unexpected, that’s okay. Otherwise, these live sessions are a fundamental part of our tutoring and will have a huge impact on your ability to potentially get hired by MarketWise. 

Aside from the live review calls, as part of your teaching, you’ll receive access to video tutorials, video masterclasses, swipe files, editorial resources, and various other materials, all of which you can work through in your own time, outside of any current employment commitments you might have.

How much you get out of the FCU is down to you, but we do expect you to find as much spare time as you’re able to write and develop headlines and leads and complete several tasks we set during the course.

The next natural question seems obvious…

Is it really all free, and seriously… no upsells?

It really is free.

And there really are no upsells here.

This will surprise you because most people would charge thousands of dollars for this kind of one-on-one teaching…

Not to mention the access to such industry experts…

And not to mention the unmatched opportunity to get a full-time job with MarketWise at the end of it.

To join the next class of the FCU, it will cost you nothing.

I’ll repeat that because it’s significant.

There is no financial cost to enrolling in the FCU.

The FCU is entirely funded by MarketWise because the leadership there understand the importance of recruiting superstar copywriters.

They also understand how difficult it is to find and train truly successful financial copywriters.

Most courses fail to get people to the level they need to be.

Most in-house copy chiefs just don’t have the time to guide juniors through the stages they need to go through.

And most “gurus” out there—even the half-decent ones—are really offering training for their own financial gain rather than focusing on the quality and potential of the students they take on. And who can blame them?

The FCU is different.

We just want to find the best hopefuls and guide them into real jobs.

That’s it.

All we ask of you is your time and dedication to learning what it takes to be a superstar financial copywriter.

Read what past students say about their experience of the FCU

“FCU reminded me why I fell in love with copywriting in the first place. Working with Glenn and Nick was a privilege — they’re sharp, generous, genuinely funny, and they push you to think at a deeper level than you even knew you could. Having my work reviewed by them wasn’t just helpful; it felt like a turning point. Even with years of experience and having trained with some of the biggest copywriters in the world, the way they taught the fundamentals felt completely new to me. I was blown away by how they think about copy on a theoretical level. In the live sessions, they didn’t just explain the concepts. They showed us, in real time, how to evaluate ideas the way top writers do… the kind of ideas that go on to sell millions. It was very inspiring. I’m very proud of this opportunity, thank you!”

— Helena de Guide, Class of ‘25

“The FCU team of Nick and Glenn is amazing. The simple reason for that is they don't teach from the pinnacle of veteran copywriters, who often forget how lost newcomers are at the beginning, and everyone learns at their own pace. Both of them allowed us to learn, try, fall, get up, and try again. That confidence that they, as mentors, showed in me is very rare. Want to become a top Financial copywriter? Join FCU because they will teach you Financial copywriting and make you believe you can do it.”

— Adeel Haq, Class of ‘25

“Over the last 12 weeks, FCU has been genuinely eye-opening for me. I came in as a newer copywriter, and it’s completely changed how I write and how I think about the craft and my career. It really was a rollercoaster in the best way. Some weeks I felt on fire, other weeks I questioned everything I was doing. But that’s exactly what I needed. It forced me to confront my blind spots, challenge my beliefs, and raise my standards so I can actually reach the goals I’m aiming for in this industry. Glenn and Nick have been supportive, honest, and incredibly generous with their time and experience. You can feel their passion, how much they care, how much intention goes into every session, and how badly they want you to get better. I’m walking away with a sharper brain, stronger copy, and a much clearer path forward as a writer. I’ll forever be grateful for this opportunity. It’s given me a new set of skills I can actually use and keep building on throughout my career.”

— Christian Onalfo, Class of ‘25

“Bamboo hides underground for five years before rocketing upward like it's been training for the Olympics. FCU gives your copy the same treatment in three months. Minus the dirt. If you knew how much you'd learn—the get-hired, get-paid, "wait... I can actually write way better now!" kind of learning—you'd hand Glenn and Nick $10,000 without blinking an eye. But you don't have to, because Marketwise is footing the bill. You just have to apply.”

— Mo Khalaf, Class of ‘25

“Before I found Financial Copy University, I was stuck. Constantly chasing clients… juggling bills… and spending more time searching for work than actually writing copy. I’d had a few wins, sure, but nothing consistent enough to build a real career on. Then I came across Financial Copy University… and everything changed. Right away, the biggest difference was mentorship. You don’t just get one mentor…you get two of the best in the business. These guys have generated who-knows-how-many millions for Agora and MarketWise. My guess…billions. And they actually show up for you. You get feedback multiple times a week, direct access to them through a private Discord, and constant guidance that keeps you moving forward. No more “Am I doing this right?” panic moments. They actually show you what to fix and how to fix it. What really blew me away is how simple they make the path into MarketWise. They break it down to something anyone can understand: Write 3 headlines and 3 leads in 12 weeks. Do it their way. Impress MarketWise. You’re basically in. And even if you don’t get in on the first shot, they don’t ghost you. They keep working with you until you’re good enough to get hired somewhere. (whether that ends up being MarketWise or another financial publisher). They genuinely care about your success. I was one of the students who made it. And honestly… A huge part of that is because these guys are just cool humans. They’re funny, they joke around, they make you feel good about your work, and they turn what is normally a stressful, lonely profession into something fun. When you’re in a good mood, you write better and they get that. I would recommend this program to any copywriter…new, struggling, or even experienced. And the best part? It’s completely free. You get world-class mentorship… A real shot at working for one of the top financial publishers in the world… And elite-level training in financial copywriting… All for zero dollars. Don’t overthink it. Join the program. It’s a complete no-brainer.”

— Chris Nieves, Class of ‘25

“The FCU has been brilliant for me. It’s helped me get a job at MarketWise - something I know wasn’t possible at the start of this process. My copy has taken a massive leap in the last 12 weeks, all thanks to the time, effort, and support Nick and Glenn have given me and the other students. I think the best way to sum up FCU is this: Nick and Glenn are on your side, doing absolutely everything they can to help you get a job at MarketWise. They want you to succeed - not just because it reflects well on them, but because they genuinely care whether you do well or not. I’ve known them both for years, and that comes across in everything they do. A group like this - with everyone going for the same jobs - could have felt competitive, but instead they made it feel collaborative. A ‘safe’ space where we were all able to share ideas freely and develop them, which I think is absolutely key to making progress. One of the biggest benefits of the FCU is all the time you’re getting with Nick and Glenn. There are three live sessions each week - where you can bring your copy for review - and then lots of back and forth in the group chat. And also video feedback on your copy, too. You’re basically getting a mentorship worth hundreds of pounds a month for free. I think it’s actually really hard to teach copy well. Even some really good writers struggle to effectively recognise - and then communicate - exactly what they’re doing. But Nick and Glenn are really good at this, and both have different strengths. Nick has thought really deeply about every aspect of what he’s doing when writing copy, and then turned that into simple, practical strategies and ideas you can follow. That’s not to say his teaching is formulaic, far from it, but it gives structure to the chaotic process of finding and writing nuanced ideas. Glenn is really great with people, and has a real eye for writing and editing copy line by line. He’ll make you feel at ease and laugh… unless you don’t get his specific brand of self-deprecating, random British humour. Then you can just smile and nod along. It can be really hard to get an ‘in’ with financial publishing companies - especially those at the top of the industry, like MarketWise. And the FCU puts you smack bang in the eye line of the people who make hiring decisions. Not only are you getting the chance to impress them - with real promotion ideas that, if they run, you’ll get paid for - but, as I say, you’ve got two seriously good writers going overboard to help you develop and present the best work you're capable of. Even if you don’t land a job, I’d really recommend applying. I’ve been writing copy for a long time, and my writing and even understanding of ‘what a good idea is’ has massively improved over the last 12 weeks. THANKS, Nick and Glenn!”

— Duncan Moreland, Class of ‘25

“The best way to improve your copywriting is to get feedback. Not feedback from “gurus” who made their name 20 years ago… or who have only written for their own offers, for small clients, or in uncompetitive markets… But from people who are still in the trenches, writing hit promos for the biggest publishers. That’s what FCU offers: the chance to write financial leads and have them torn apart (gently) by Nick and Glenn. And, at the end of 12 weeks, to have your best work presented to copy chiefs at Marketwise. So, if you’re interested in working as a financial copywriter, seriously consider applying to FCU. It offers an unparalleled opportunity to break into the industry.”

— Steve Gibson, Class of ‘25

So, if you think this is the right opportunity for you and you’re serious about getting a job as a financial copywriter with MarketWise…

It’s time to start your application.

The first thing to do is enter your email address in the box below.

As soon as you do that, you’ll go straight to a video from me where I’ll explain exactly what to do to apply…

… plus I’ll give you three pieces of advice that’ll give you a MUCH better chance of succeeding.

Enter your best email below to get started:

Obviously, due to the intense nature of the training you’ll receive as a student of the FCU, we can’t take on everyone who wants in.

Instead, we will select 12 people from the applications we receive.

I’ll say that again, because it’s fundamentally important.

There are only ever 12 spaces in a class, and so you must apply to be in with a chance of being in the next class, which starts Monday, February 23.

Hopefully, I’ve been clear about the opportunity on the table here, but if you do have questions, scroll down and you’ll find a Q&A that might help you.

If not, you have our email address to get in touch to clarify something.

But really, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for. 

This is your chance to truly get a foot in the door at MarketWise and kickstart your copywriting career in a way that has never been possible before.

Remember, there isn’t anything else like this in the industry—but this is likely to change the way copywriters are hired forever.

Right now, there are 12 spaces available for the next class…

Get in touch and tell us why one of them should be yours.

Enter your best email in the form below to register, and you’ll be directed to the video I’ve recorded that explains how to apply.

Cheers,

Nick O’Connor
Founder
Financial Copy U

Your FCU tutors

Nick O’Connor

Nick O’Connor spent over a decade writing for various divisions in the Agora publishing world and spent several years as both the Head of Copy, and Publisher, of Agora’s financial imprint in the UK, Southbank Investment Research. Today, as well as co-founding The Fix, he writes freelance for financial publishers in the UK, US and Australia and consults with Agora companies around the world.

Glenn Fisher

Glenn Fisher is an author, copywriter, and speaker. His best-selling book on copywriting, The Art of the Click, was shortlisted for a Business Book of the Year award and has been translated into Chinese and Korean. He created the hit copywriting podcast All Good Copy and is a co-founder of The Fix. He writes and consults for some of the most recognized brands in the world today.

Frequently asked questions

  • Probably the most successful financial publisher in the US. They’re huge, and publicly traded on the NASDAQ. 

    But perhaps more crucial is that the company has achieved a large part of its success thanks to direct-response marketing methods and copywriting.

    It’s why, when in the world of financial copywriting… MarketWise is the company all copywriters look up to and aspire to write for.

  • You can read our official biographies above, but really, we’re two copywriters who love what we do, and (perversely, some might say) love talking to and teaching other copywriters how to do it.

    It’s our love for copywriting that saw us host the first ever copywriting festival in London, which—for fun—we held in the crypt of an old Victorian church. We flew the best in the business from around the world to talk to hundreds of copywriters who gathered to celebrate all things copy... and learn a thing or two.

    It's also why we recently hosted a top-level copywriting mastermind event at Bill Bonner’s chateau in France. Copywriters, marketers and business owners flew from around the world to join me and Glenn at the chateau and discuss what will be the next big breakthroughs in the industry.

    Bottom line is, we know copy… and we’re in a pretty good position to help you get where you need to be in this industry.

  • Honestly? Because it’s really hard to find and train successful financial copywriters, yet when you’re able to identify a truly successful copywriter—it can be a game-changer not just for the copywriter, but for a business like MarketWise.

    Indeed, MarketWise understand this… and that’s why they’re investing into building a programme like this that makes identifying, training and ultimately hiring promising copywriters a whole lot more effective.

    As to why me and Glenn are doing it? Well, like I said before… we’ve been training copywriters for a while now and we enjoy it. Plus, we’re damn good at it. And of course, as part of our deal, MarketWise are investing in us and compensating us for our time so that everyone’s aim is the same: find more copywriters.

  • No. It’s all run online. You can join us from anywhere in the world (though we’ll be running our training calls between 9am and 12pm ET).

  • Nothing. There is no catch. And no upsells. If you make it through the application process, you’ll be granted access to all the resources you need to take part. There might be some extra books you want to buy and stuff like that, but fundamentally, the training and support you’ll receive in the FCU itself is free.

  • No – but you’ll have a much better chance of progressing if you are.

    Remember, our goal here is to find the next generation of copywriting talent, to join the MarketWise team.

    That means people who live and work in the USA are obviously going to have a better chance. 

    That said, there IS an opportunity for contractors to work with the MarketWise business. It all comes down to how good you are.

    My advice is, apply—and we’ll have this conversation in person.

  • The course itself is run over 12 weeks. You’ll need to attend at least one group call a week and usually one one-to-one session. Aside from that, you’ll need to give several hours a week to researching and writing copy. Though it’s different for everyone, we recommend you’re able to dedicate at least 20 hours a week to this, whether that’s in your spare time or during the working week.

  • The next class starts on January 31, but the deadline for applications is midnight on February 23.

  • Sure. There is no exclusivity agreement or NDA or anything like that, either. If you think you can do this and work at the same time, that’s your call. But please do be aware that this will be intensive and if you want the best chance of succeeding and being hired by MarketWise, you’ll need to dedicate plenty of time to this. It’s not a minor side hustle thing—it’s a serious commitment, with the intention of getting a permanent job at the end.

  • We plan to run the FCU three times a year, so if you miss out on this intake, there will be other opportunities to apply for future classes.

  • No. I’m not interested in where you went to school, or literally anything beyond your writing ability. This isn’t applying for a job at McDonalds or Target. There’s one very specific task I’m setting all applicants… which I’ll talk you through when you start your application.

  • Enter your email address in one of the forms on this page, then watch the video I’ve prepared to talk you through your application.

  • No. We’ll do our best to get you to a point where one of the businesses in MarketWise will want to hire you, but there are no guarantees. This is a difficult industry, and it takes time to get good. But we do believe this is the best route to get your foot in the door and the MarketWise businesses are actively looking to hire FCU students if you have what it takes.

  • Ideally, that’s our main aim—to bring people into the team at Marketwise to work alongside the likes of Kelly Brown, Michael Ford, and Justin Gershwin. There’s something special that happens when you’re in house and surrounded by your team and the business more broadly. So, if we can get you to Baltimore, that’s great. But great copywriters are hard to find and therefore if we think you’ve got something special and being based in-house doesn’t work for you, we’ll figure it out.

  • Fundamentally, we’re looking for talented copywriters who have what it takes to cut it at Marketwise. That means we’ll always be open to any working possibility.

  • Your career is over! I’m joking. That’s far from the case. We’ll always be honest and if we think you would be better trying a different approach, we’ll tell you. But it’s more likely you’ll need some further training and practice, or it might be you’re better suited to another company in the financial publishing space, or a different niche altogether, like health or marketing, maybe. Either way, we’ll support you however we can and help make connections and point you in the right direction. This is a serious programme that looks to support people and nurture copywriting talent, not roast copy and dismiss creative people.

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