LinkedIn Top Voices 2017: Economy & Finance

These are the 10 must-know writers and creators explaining everything from Wall Street to your wallet.

Every day, over a million posts, videos and articles course through the LinkedIn feed, generating tens of millions more shares and likes among professionals. So, who stood out in 2017 — and who should you be following to stay ahead?

We dug into the data to reveal our 3rd annual LinkedIn Top Voices list, uncovering today's must-follow professionals in finance and the economy.

To compile the list, we use a combination of data and editorial signals designed to capture the voices making a mark in their industry. This includes engagement (specifically the likes, comments and shares across each member’s articles, posts and videos); growth of followers tied to publishing activity; and number of times the writer had been featured in editorial channels, a signal of high-quality content. We also emphasize diversity of topics and voices.

These members have written about everything from the evolution of the Federal Reserve and what's hot in fintech to the transformation of Africa's economy and real estate prices in India. They are curating what you need to know to stay ahead when it comes to your money and understanding the markets.

Here are the Top Voices in economy and finance this year:

Jeffrey Towson | Professor of Investment, Guanghua School of Management

What he talks about: Towson, a Beijing-based professor, talks about the battle for the Chinese consumer and which companies are winning the fight for their attention and yuans. He focuses on digital strategy, looking at e-commerce giants like Alibaba and JD.com.

Favorite conversation starter: “5 things I learned from my visit to Mobike headquarters” is not just a chronicle of visiting the bike-sharing company, but a look into “a completely new business model that combines online and offline assets and economics in a powerful way,” says Towson.

How he gets his best ideas: It’s about getting out of the office. “I take long walks with a notepad. You can always see me walking around Beijing, Shanghai and Bangkok, talking to myself and scribbling notes.”

See more by Jeffrey Towson.

Lex Sokolin | Global Director Fintech Strategy, Autonomous Research

What he talks about: Sokolin, a partner at financial insights firm Autonomous Research, talks about how emerging trends in fintech — think cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence, robo-advisers and more — are transforming traditional finance. “My mission is to turn futurism and innovation into quantifiable and rigorous strategies that can be applied at scale by investors, incumbents and startups,” he says.

Favorite conversation starter: In January, Sokolin published his 2017 fintech predictions. Several of those predictions, including yet another massive Initial Coin Offering and the rise of big tech in financial services — ended up being “eerily accurate,” says Sokolin.

Beyond fintech: Outside of the office, he creates artificial intelligence-based visual art, using automated code and digital editing to create striking images.

See more by Lex Sokolin.

Henri Arslanian | Fintech & Regtech Leader, Hong Kong at PwC

What he talks about: Arslanian’s expertise extends from fintech (including banking models of the future and the quickly evolving cryptocurrency space) to regtech and lawtech, two terms that are on the rise as technology drastically transforms the future of lawyers.

Series he’s proudest of: Arslanian brings high-energy flair to the sometimes staid world of finance and law, which is captured in his ongoing video series. His FinTech Capsules provides up-close access to today’s top fintech thought leaders.

The idea-generating power of cigars: A cigar aficionado, Arslanian finds his best ideas come with one in hand. “I generally seclude myself with a cigar and notepad one evening a week, leaving my smartphone and computer away,” he says. “Most of my ideas come then.”

See more by Henri Arslanian.

Stephen Yeboah | Founder & CEO, Commodity Monitor

What he talks about: “I write about Africa. I write about development. And I write about how to connect Africa and development,” says Yeboah. “I seek to discuss any political, social and economic issue that will bring improvement in the lives of people in developing countries, especially those in Africa.”

Favorite conversation starter: Yeboah’s article, “Why reliable climate and weather data is key to Africa’s agriculture transformation,” represents the cross-section of his passion and his expertise. As a research consultant at the African Development Bank, Yeboah looks at these issues daily: “There are incredible opportunities in Africa’s agriculture. But there are challenges, too,” he says.

What he’s watching in 2018: “How the geopolitics of energy and resources will shape global discourse on economic development,” says Yeboah.

See more by Stephen Yeboah.

Ritesh Kumar Singh | Group Chief Economist, Raymond Limited

What he talks about: Singh, a corporate economist with expertise in investment and trade policy, talks about topics as diverse as the implications of India’s regulatory policies to business ethics to the politics of international trade.

Favorite conversation starter: Singh is a fan of his article on real estate prices in India. “Buying properties is a national obsession in India and almost everyone I meet asks me why home prices are sticky despite a serious demand slump,” says Singh. “I have tried to explain the inexplicable Indian real estate puzzle.”

2017’s most interesting news story: “Despite the growing discontent against globalization, the global trade has been reviving,” he says. In particular, “China, instead of the U.S., defending free trade and globalization was interesting news for me.”

See more by Ritesh Kumar Singh.

Joshua Brown | CEO, Ritholtz Wealth Management

What he talks about: Brown helps his readers connect with news about investing and economics, questioning the the motivations of most investors and looking into the impact of automation on investing trends.

Favorite conversation starter: “How to raise 20 billion dollarz” combines an industry insider's perspective with enough common sense to keep it accessible for people who have never worked in finance but need to understand what they're being told (sold).

Science fiction no more: This year, Brown revisited classic works of literature like “1984,” “Animal Farm,” “Player Piano” and “East of Eden,” finding their predictions and warnings to be shockingly apropos to life in 2017.

See more by Joshua Brown.

Alicia Garcia-Herrero | Chief Economist for Asia Pacific, NATIXIS

What she talks about: As chief economist for international banking and investing leader Natixis, Garcia-Herrero spends a lot of time studying the economic ups and downs in India, China and Japan. She uses LinkedIn to share summaries and her insights from thorough policy research about global economic issues and the economy in Asia.

Favorite conversation starter: “Can the Chinese government afford bailing out its zombie state-owned companies” is an example of Garcia-Herrero’s well-researched articles that illuminate economic trends in regions her readers may not be familiar with.

What she’s watching in 2018: Garcia-Herrero is paying close attention to China's increasingly relevant impact in different countries and sectors.

See more by Alicia Garcia-Herrero.

Krishna Memani | Chief Investment Officer, Oppenheimer Funds

What he talks about: Covering global markets and the economy, Memani has written about everything from the impact of European elections on markets and the case for emerging market equities to building income portfolios in an income-challenged world.

Favorite conversation starter: In “Low volatility is a killer,” Memani contemplates the tricky situation the Fed finds itself in thanks to remarkably low volatility in the market. “The entire dataset of the modern U.S. economy informs the Fed that at the current level of employment, inflation is lurking right around the corner,” he writes.

One thing not on his LinkedIn profile: Memani says he used to build custom drones long before drones became a hot commodity.

See more by Krishna Memani.

Danielle DiMartino Booth | President, Money Strong

What she talks about: DiMartino Booth covers the play-by-play of markets and investing news for investors, workers and students, and helps them figure out why they should care about where the markets and economy are headed.

Favorite conversation starter: “How the Fed went from lender of last resort to destroyer of American wealth” — this article and video introduced DiMartino Booth’s book, “Fed Up,” and connected her to more people from different professions than she could have dreamed.

What she’s watching in 2018: She’s keeping tabs on how President Trump continues to fill the vacant seats on the Federal Reserve Board as well as how openings are filled at the Richmond and soon-to-be New York Feds.

See more by Danielle DiMartino Booth.

Theodora Lau | Director of Market Innovation, AARP

What she talks about: Lau focuses on how financial services and insurance tech innovation impact older adults, asking thought-provoking questions like, “What if we live to be 100?” and “What separates humans from machines?”

Favorite conversation starter: Her most popular piece so far has been “Listen Up, FinTech: American consumers need your help.” Lau says, “It was an effective piece that was able to spark dialogue and interests in the needs and wants for older adults, both on LinkedIn and Twitter and offline in face-to-face meetings.”

One thing not on her LinkedIn profile: An avid runner, Lau finds that running often helps her formulate her thoughts for future articles.

See more by Theodora Lau.

?You’ve read about the Top Voices in finance and the economy this year. Now, check out the #LinkedInTopVoices in venture capital and entrepreneurship, healthcare, education and more.

[The list reflects publishing activity over a 12-month period, from November 2016 to November 2017, and as with all LinkedIn Lists, we excluded LinkedIn and Microsoft employees from consideration.]