by = from

Thu Nov 1 17:47:04 UTC 2012

I think it's attempting to burnish the reputation of BlackRock by
associating it with Mozart and Michelangelo.

JL

On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 1:42 PM, Baker, John <JBAKER at stradley.com> wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Baker, John" <JBAKER at STRADLEY.COM>
> Subject:      Re: by = from
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>         Well, in fairness to BlackRock, it would also be accurate to say
> that iShares are "sponsored by BlackRock."  "Sponsored" is a bit vague in
> its precise meaning, but it generally is understood to mean that the
> sponsor designed and created the fund, which in this case would be an
> accurate statement.  I tend to think that it's more important who manages a
> fund than who sponsors it, but I can see the contrary argument, especially
> in the case of index funds such as iShares.
>
>         I think it's fair to ask, in a case like this, what the tag line
> is trying to tell us.  Three possibilities come to mind:
>
>         1.      It's purely informational, letting potential investors
> know of the connection between iShares and BlackRock.  While this actually
> is useful and neutral information, a purely informational statement
> probably would have used more precise language.
>
>         2.      It's attempting to burnish the image of iShares by
> associating it with BlackRock.  This seems the obvious interpretation.
>  Still, why should the average investor care?  Since the iShares funds are
> index funds, they follow a mechanical and fully disclosed investment
> strategy that has already been locked in place.  An investor probably
> should just figure which index funds best match his or her investment
> goals, then choose whichever one of those has the lowest expenses.
>
>         3.      It's attempting to burnish the image of BlackRock by
> associating it with iShares.  I wouldn't rule this one out.  BlackRock is
> the largest money manager in the world, with $3,512,681,000,000 under
> management as of December 31 (I just happen to have the latest issue of
> Pensions & Investments handy), but it's a relatively young firm and its
> public image is not commensurate with its size.
>
>         Incidentally, that number looks unreasonably large to me.  What
> was the price of the Louisiana Purchase?  I feel like adding "and 16
> cents," which was always part of the number whenever the value of Scrooge
> McDuck's fortune was stated.
>
>
> John Baker
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
> Of Jonathan Lighter
> Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 12:53 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: by = from
>
> So the situation is even dumber or more evil than I thought.
>
> To say "by BlackRock" (it's so clever when they run words together) implies
> (to me) that iShares is like a poem or a drama or a musical composition. A
> veritable work of art.
>
> For which BlackRock is solely responsible as designer and creator.  John
> shows otherwise.
>
> At least "*from* BlackRock" would suggest no more to the cynical ad-watcher
> than that BR is somewhere in the mix when the iShares appear. Others would
> simply assume that BR is entirely responsible. "Managed by BlackRock" just
> sounds boring, no matter how great BR might be.
>
> But that's show biz.
>
> JL
>
> On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 12:32 PM, Baker, John <JBAKER at stradley.com> wrote:
>
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > -----------------------
> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       "Baker, John" <JBAKER at STRADLEY.COM>
> > Subject:      Re: by = from
> >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Actually, BlackRock (specifically, BlackRock Fund Advisors, a subsidiary
> > of BlackRock, Inc.) is the investment adviser to the iShares family of
> > exchange-traded funds, so when the ad says "By BlackRock" it really means
> > "Managed by BlackRock," not "From BlackRock."
> >
> > It's true that another BlackRock entity (BlackRock Investments, LLC)
> > serves as the distributor to iShares, but this is irrelevant for two
> > reasons.  First, investors that are not large broker-dealers buy their
> > iShares shares on the open market, not through the distributor, so they
> > aren't really acquired "from BlackRock."  Second, nobody gives a damn who
> > the distributor of an exchange-traded fund is.
> >
> >
> > John Baker
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
> > Of Jonathan Lighter
> > Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 8:57 AM
> > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> > Subject: by = from
> >
> > So far restricted to ads. I hope:
> >
> > "iShares. By Black Rock."
> >
> > JL
> >
> > --
> > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> truth."
> >
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>
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
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--
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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