The mistake: sending more data

The first version of our daily-picks email worked technically. It read the worker cache, selected top signals, and sent an email. But the product shape was wrong: it looked like a raw table.

Tables ask the user to analyze. A morning brief should help the user decide.

So we split the product into three surfaces:

Email = Decision summary
PDF report = Explanation
Dashboard = Exploration

Email: under 30 seconds

The email now answers one question:

What should I do today?

It contains:

• Today's playbook.
• Consensus score.
• Suggested exposure and cash allocation.
• One top opportunity.
• What we see.
• Today's actions.
• A dashboard CTA.
• A PDF attachment card.

It intentionally does not show raw RSI/volume tables. Those belong in the report.

PDF: premium explanation

The attached PDF is the slower surface. It explains why the email says what it says.

The report includes:

• Cover.
• Executive summary.
• Market story.
• Allocation model.
• Top opportunities.
• Signal breakdown.
• Full watchlist.
• Risk dashboard.
• Action plan.
• Disclaimer.
• Methodology.
• Appendix.

The PDF is generated by the worker from the same cached decision payload. It does not ask the API to recompute anything.

Dashboard: exploration

The dashboard remains the place for curiosity: symbol scope, macro radar, engine cards, signal feeds, and deeper inspection. The email should never try to become a dashboard in the inbox.

Product principle

One screen should carry one decision.

That means the email should be short enough to understand in a line at a coffee shop. The PDF should be rich enough to justify the recommendation later. The dashboard should be open-ended enough to explore.

Engineering principle

The design shift did not change the decision boundary:

• Worker owns decision semantics.
• FastAPI reads cache.
• React renders.
• Email and PDF are delivery formats over the same cache.

That is the important part. Product polish should not create a hidden second decision engine.

Takeaway

Do not deliver more data. Deliver clarity.

Further reading: ADR-017 (docs/adr/017-premium-daily-brief-email-pdf.md).