He wrote the former Federal Reserve chief a letter. By hand.

The missive so struck Greenspan that he phoned Thompson immediately. “He said, ‘I couldn’t resist calling you because it’s seldom that I get a letter like this,’” Thompson recalled Wednesday.

It was a small gesture in a yearlong courtship that paid off this week when Pimco disclosed that it had hired Greenspan as an outside consultant. Greenspan will advise the California-based bond-fund giant on economic and monetary policy in his first consulting gig since he left the Fed in January 2006.

The 81-year-old economist has received numerous offers from investment banks, hedge funds, private equity shops and others on Wall Street and in corporate America, according to people close to him.

“When Dr. Greenspan left the Fed, he received more offers than I’ve ever received for anybody other than former President Clinton,” said Robert Barnett, a lawyer for the ex-Fed chief. “It seems that everyone would like him to be part of their efforts.”

Greenspan, through a spokeswoman, declined to comment. Pimco would not disclose the terms of its accord with Greenspan, except to say it was a multiyear deal.

An economic consultant early in his career, Greenspan brings two things to Pimco, experts said: unmatched credentials in divining global economic currents and — perhaps more important — marketing cachet that could help lure business to Pimco.

Greenspan will visit Newport Beach four times a year for quarterly forecasting sessions, Thompson said. He also will consult regularly with Pimco investment managers, including Bill Gross, who runs the flagship Total Return bond fund.

The fund, which is up 1.2 percent this year, has trailed most of its peers for much of the past year, according to Morningstar Inc.

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