Corporate Finance
Professionals in this field help businesses make choices using financial tools and analysis. There are different paths to take in this career such as financial planning and analysis, business development, cost analysis, and treasury. Professionals in this field are highly valued members of a company and they get to explore a lot of different aspects of the financial field.
Professionals in this field help businesses make choices using financial tools and analysis. There are different paths to take in this career such as financial planning and analysis, business development, cost analysis, and treasury. Professionals in this field are highly valued members of a company and they get to explore a lot of different aspects of the financial field.
Investment Banking
Investment banking is a vast field that includes different focuses such as underwriting, syndications and financial advisory services such as M&A and restructuring. While a challenging career path, it can lead to further opportunities such as Venture Capital, Hedge Funds, Private Equity, or Corporate Development. Professionals in this field can work with "Bulge Bracket" banks such as Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo Securities, or they can work for "Boutique" or "Middle Market" banks which make smaller deals or operate in a certain area. Students interested in pursuing a career in Investment Banking should start preparing as soon as freshman year.
Investment banking is a vast field that includes different focuses such as underwriting, syndications and financial advisory services such as M&A and restructuring. While a challenging career path, it can lead to further opportunities such as Venture Capital, Hedge Funds, Private Equity, or Corporate Development. Professionals in this field can work with "Bulge Bracket" banks such as Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo Securities, or they can work for "Boutique" or "Middle Market" banks which make smaller deals or operate in a certain area. Students interested in pursuing a career in Investment Banking should start preparing as soon as freshman year.
Wealth Management
In this profession, people offer a large number of investment products and services as well as advice to help both individuals and high-net worth investors. Wealth Management includes financial/investment advice, accounting/tax services, legal/estate planning, and insurance. It typically involves advising for an individuals' overall lifestyle. A lot of large firms have Wealth Management groups, as well as regional firms that specialize in Wealth Management. Professionals in this career typically have the most flexible hours however they will need a lot of sales skills and a lot of days include making calls and going to occasional meetings.
In this profession, people offer a large number of investment products and services as well as advice to help both individuals and high-net worth investors. Wealth Management includes financial/investment advice, accounting/tax services, legal/estate planning, and insurance. It typically involves advising for an individuals' overall lifestyle. A lot of large firms have Wealth Management groups, as well as regional firms that specialize in Wealth Management. Professionals in this career typically have the most flexible hours however they will need a lot of sales skills and a lot of days include making calls and going to occasional meetings.
Asset Management
This profession is very similar to wealth management however, there are a few important differences. Asset Management focuses only on the investment side of portfolios and the profession does not provide the overall lifestyle financial planning that wealth management does. A lot of banks have asset management branches as well as large firms.
This profession is very similar to wealth management however, there are a few important differences. Asset Management focuses only on the investment side of portfolios and the profession does not provide the overall lifestyle financial planning that wealth management does. A lot of banks have asset management branches as well as large firms.
Sales and Trading
Sales & Trading includes the fixed-income, equity, currency and commodity markets. Professionals working in sales will work with many different institutional investors to distribute securities originated by the investment bank. Professionals in trading work to make markets and to manage the bank’s risk exposure within their area of responsibility. There are two parts of trading; Agency trading and Proprietary trading. Agency traders have jobs at a sell-side financial institution, like a large investment bank, and they complete orders for their clients. Proprietary traders make their own trading decisions that will benefit their own financial gain.
Sales & Trading includes the fixed-income, equity, currency and commodity markets. Professionals working in sales will work with many different institutional investors to distribute securities originated by the investment bank. Professionals in trading work to make markets and to manage the bank’s risk exposure within their area of responsibility. There are two parts of trading; Agency trading and Proprietary trading. Agency traders have jobs at a sell-side financial institution, like a large investment bank, and they complete orders for their clients. Proprietary traders make their own trading decisions that will benefit their own financial gain.
Equity Research
This profession focuses on analyzing public companies to give a Buy/Hold/Sell recommendation on stocks. Equity research analysts look at the company's financials, industry trends, financial ratios, and more to try and predict how the companies will perform going forward using financial modeling. There are two different categories of Equity Research analysts - buying and selling. Both categories have similar tasks, but buy-side analysts work for firms that will be investing in different companies, and sell-side analysts provide research and advise other investors.
This profession focuses on analyzing public companies to give a Buy/Hold/Sell recommendation on stocks. Equity research analysts look at the company's financials, industry trends, financial ratios, and more to try and predict how the companies will perform going forward using financial modeling. There are two different categories of Equity Research analysts - buying and selling. Both categories have similar tasks, but buy-side analysts work for firms that will be investing in different companies, and sell-side analysts provide research and advise other investors.
Commercial Banking
Professionals in this field work on the client facing side of a bank. An example of this is Bank of America, which is a bulge bracket bank however it also provides checking accounts, investments, loans, etc... This job is to sell loans and accounts to customers and provide service to them.
Professionals in this field work on the client facing side of a bank. An example of this is Bank of America, which is a bulge bracket bank however it also provides checking accounts, investments, loans, etc... This job is to sell loans and accounts to customers and provide service to them.
Private Equity
This profession focuses on the investment of private companies. Their investment strategy consists of buying an entire business with leverage and executing operational improvements to increase the value of the business. A private equity firm will usually hold an investment for 5-7 years. After that they will sell the business at a higher value. This profession is highly competitive, and most people will do two years of investment banking before they enter a private equity firm as an associate. However, there are a few opportunities to enter a private equity firm right out of college as a private equity analyst.
This profession focuses on the investment of private companies. Their investment strategy consists of buying an entire business with leverage and executing operational improvements to increase the value of the business. A private equity firm will usually hold an investment for 5-7 years. After that they will sell the business at a higher value. This profession is highly competitive, and most people will do two years of investment banking before they enter a private equity firm as an associate. However, there are a few opportunities to enter a private equity firm right out of college as a private equity analyst.
Venture Capital
These professionals invest in start-up companies. A lot of new companies want venture capital funding to start their business and to grow rapidly. Professionals in this field choose which startups to invest in and they will advise the start up throughout a series of funding. They also provide support by putting members of their own firm on the boards of the companies. Venture capitalists typically exit the investment in companies through a buyout or IPO. This is also an extremely competitive career.
These professionals invest in start-up companies. A lot of new companies want venture capital funding to start their business and to grow rapidly. Professionals in this field choose which startups to invest in and they will advise the start up throughout a series of funding. They also provide support by putting members of their own firm on the boards of the companies. Venture capitalists typically exit the investment in companies through a buyout or IPO. This is also an extremely competitive career.
