One of the main attractive features of investment banking is the breadth of opportunities it opens beyond the industry itself. After a few years, many bankers try and some make the jump to private equity, or other related industries that offer a better work-life balance and better pay. Effectively, the role shifts from advising on deals to owning and managing portfolio companies, applying their analytical and deal-execution experience in a more hands-on investment role. Others may leave for...

$730bn start-up restocks its war chest for battle with Anthropic and Google https://www.ft.com/content/33364b58-5123-4c96-b2df-4a4be85d4d0f

An assessment centre, also known as an assessment day, is the final stage of a recruitment process. It generally runs for a whole day and candidates are judged by the business to identify the top quarter of the batch. Unlike 1-on-1 interviews, assessment centres model real-world scenarios and are used to build a holistic view of each candidate's skills and how they would perform in such situations. Both HR and multiple reps from the business are present and both qualitative and quantitative...

Investing as a High-Earner in Finance: A Stage-by-Stage Guide In the fast-paced world of high finance—whether you're breaking into investment banking, private equity, or hedge funds in London's Canary Wharf or Frankfurt's financial district—your career trajectory often mirrors a steep ascent. Starting as a graduate analyst with a competitive salary and bonuses, you might progress to associate, vice president (VP), director, and eventually partner, where earnings can soar into the seven...

In the dynamic economic landscape of 2026, the Industrials sector emerges as a critical engine of growth, encompassing manufacturing, aerospace, defense, capital goods, and transportation. Valued at over $5 trillion globally, this sector drives infrastructure, innovation, and supply chains worldwide. Amid geopolitical tensions, tariffs, and technological shifts, Industrials face intense scrutiny from regulators, investors, and policymakers. Challenges like labor shortages and supply chain...

In the fast-evolving landscape of 2026, the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) sector stands as a colossus, driving economic growth while facing unprecedented scrutiny. Valued at trillions and comprising over 50% of the S&P 500's market capitalization, TMT isn't just an industry—it's the backbone of modern society. From AI-powered innovations to global connectivity, this sector influences everything from daily communications to geopolitical strategies. Yet, with great power...

The allure of investment banking (IB) in London draws ambitious graduates from across the globe, promising high-stakes deals, prestige, and a gateway to the City's financial elite. As a summer intern at a bulge-bracket firm like Morgan Stanley or JPMorgan in Canary Wharf, you're immersed in a world where multimillion-pound mergers and acquisitions unfold amid the gleaming skyscrapers of London's financial district. This isn't the glitzy portrayal from films; it's a rigorous initiation filled...

The #1 Niche for Defense Startups: Drones In an era where warfare is increasingly defined by autonomy and precision, drones have emerged as the undisputed kingpin for defense startups. As geopolitical tensions simmer—from Ukraine's battlefields to potential Pacific flashpoints—the demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has skyrocketed. These agile, cost-effective systems are reshaping military strategies, offering capabilities that traditional hardware can't match. For entrepreneurs...

You've probably heard the word "transaction" thrown around like confetti at a trading floor celebration. But what does it actually mean? Not in the dictionary sense — in the real, practical, "this is what bankers actually do" sense. Let's break it down. The Simple Version A transaction is a major financial event where a company buys, sells, combines, or raises something of value — like ownership or capital — generally for strategic reasons. Put another way, it is a major event in a company's...

Investment banking transactions can be broadly categorised into several key buckets, spanning both M&A advisory and capital markets activities. Each transaction type serves different strategic objectives and requires distinct skill sets, though all involve high-stakes financial decision-making and execution. 2. Mergers (Part of M&A) Mergers are similar to acquisitions and are collectively referred to under the umbrella term mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The strategic logic behind a...

“Wait, you can buy a company? Not just buy something at a company?” The first time I learned companies were for sale, I was flummoxed. Why would you want to buy a company? How much would it cost? And who had that kind of money, anyway? Several years later, after working at various top elite boutique investment banks and private equity firms, though, I began to piece together the basics, which I now share with my students at Wall Street Mastermind to answer to the questions I originally...

Technical proficiency has become a non-negotiable requirement for careers in investment banking, private equity, and corporate finance. While universities provide a theoretical foundation, most employers expect junior hires to arrive with a working knowledge of financial modeling, valuation, and transaction mechanics. This disconnect has led many candidates to seek external training providers to prepare for interviews and early-career roles. This review examines The Investment Banker by...

Why It's Challenging To Break Into VC A career in venture capital is often regarded as one of the most difficult paths to break into in finance. The industry appears closed, opaque, and dominated by a narrow group of former founders, investment bankers, and elite university graduates. While there is some truth to this perception, it obscures a more practical reality. Venture capital is less about pedigree and far more about proximity to high-quality deal flow and the ability to evaluate it...

Lorettz shares his career journey across banking and consulting, starting with an international education in economics and strategy (University of Sussex, Stanford exchange, and a Master’s in Strategy & International Management from the University of St. Gallen). He began his career at Credit Suisse in Zurich in wealth management before moving into the bank’s wind-down (bad bank) division, where he spent four years working on complex, legally intensive projects aimed at reducing...

Citadel, the hedge fund led by Ken Griffin and known for its success in commodity markets, is entering the industrial metals sector after years of avoidance. This shift comes as metals like copper and tin reach record highs, sparking broader interest in the market. The firm has hired Ylan Adler as a portfolio manager focused on cross-commodities, with metals as a central component. The article highlights this move amid a surge in metals trading by other funds and houses...

ASML Holding NV, a Dutch semiconductor equipment maker, reported record fourth-quarter bookings of €13.2 billion ($15.8 billion), surpassing analyst estimates of €6.85 billion. The surge is driven by demand for advanced equipment to support AI infrastructure. During an analyst call, executives addressed concerns about maintaining this momentum. The company is based in Veldhoven, Netherlands, and the results were announced on January 28, 2026...

It's taking many of America’s most credentialed business-school graduates months to land and accept job offers.⁠ https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/even-mbas-from-top-business-schools-are-struggling-to-get-hired-11f4a167 ⁠ With companies scrutinizing every white-collar hire, the job market for M.B.A.s has sputtered for more than a year. That is weakening a reliable catapult into executive-track jobs that can pay hundreds of thousands of dollars.⁠ ⁠ Though there were hiring rebounds at...

Alex and David discuss breaking in from PwC in Dublin to Lazard in London, the grim realities of life on the desk, and his thoughts on AI's impact on the industry. Off The Beaten Path David's journey began at Trinity College Dublin, where he studied economics and geography without a clear career destination in mind. "I speak to a lot of grads at the moment who are a lot more clued in than I was," he admits, "but I knew it was in finance somewhere." This led him to PWC's deals department...

The largest merger and acquisition (M&A) deal of all time remains the hostile takeover of Mannesmann AG by Vodafone AirTouch PLC in 1999–2000, a landmark transaction that reshaped the global telecommunications landscape and set a record that has stood for over two decades. The Record-Breaking Deal In late 1999, British telecom giant Vodafone AirTouch (formed after Vodafone's earlier acquisition of AirTouch Communications) launched an audacious bid for Mannesmann AG, a German industrial...

Discussions over a tie-up to create the world’s largest mining group come as race to secure copper reshapes the sector https://www.ft.com/content/33b05a8b-9de0-4e70-8530-7237df1bf0d9