RSM expands middle market conversation as analyst team, policy efforts grow

RSM’s reputation as the leading source of insight on middle market issues broadened in 2022.

Our program to develop a team of in-house industry analysts marked its fifth year, while we pushed ahead with efforts in Washington to spotlight the viewpoints of midsize businesses on issues ranging from tax policy to sustainability.

The RSM Industry Eminence Program, led by Deputy Chief Economist Kevin Depew, added 13 additional analysts for a total of 56 participants across the firm’s focus industries, building an increasingly global perspective with growing representation in Canada and the U.K.

Alongside anchor commentary from RSM US Chief Economist Joe Brusuelas and Drs. Tuan Nguyen (United States) and Tu Nguyen (Canada)—economists who both marked their second year with the firm—the analysts’ data-driven industry analysis offered critical insights to help clients navigate a challenging economy.

The robust presence of the economics team was pervasive: through thought leadership such as the analysts’ quarterly industry outlook reports; in client, prospect and in-house presentations; on association roundtables and external webcasts; and in congressional offices in Washington. All the while, they secured frequent appearances in national print and broadcast media, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Hill, CNN and Yahoo Finance, to name just a few.

The RSM US Middle Market Business Index entered its eighth year, providing an invaluable quarterly reading on the economic views of executives at middle market organizations across a range of industries. In addition, the RSM UK MMBI is in its second year, providing key insights into the business climate and trends in other global markets.

MMBI special reports helped to unpack complex topics such as supply chain disruptions, shifts in workplace behavior, ongoing cybersecurity threats and ESG compliance as the economy emerged from the pandemic.

These reports, along with The Real Economy and The Real Economy Canada, the firm’s periodic economic publications, and The Real Economy Blog, RSM’s platform for daily takes on market-driven trends, comprise our full spectrum of middle market insights for the near- and longer-term.

The voice of the middle market on Capitol Hill

Meanwhile, the firm’s public policy efforts continued to educate policymakers about the real-world implications of legislative and regulatory actions on middle market organizations. RSM partners and other practitioners met regularly with D.C. leaders to convey anecdotal and research-based perspectives about the issues most relevant to RSM clients: tax policy, trade, economics, health care, infrastructure, cybersecurity and financial services.

Discussion and written commentary often centered on the unique challenges faced by middle market companies, offering views policymakers would not otherwise receive. RSM continued to work closely with many of the top national business organizations to ensure the voice of the middle market is reflected in their policy efforts as well.

Leading insights from these discussions were conveyed to clients and others through webcasts, articles, videos and a host of other communications, providing a window into the intersection of policy and business for the middle market.