What Is Investment Banking Tips On How To Become A Banker

What is investment banking?

The field offers roles ranging from consultants and analysts to research associates and trading specialists – each requiring its own unique educational qualifications and skill set. Currently, the biggest investment banks in the U.S. are JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Citigroup (NYSE: C), and Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS). Not far behind them is a formidable group of international banking giants, such as Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Credit Suisse, and UBS.

Investment bank vs commercial bank

Commercial banks and investment banks are both essential components of a modern economy; however, their respective functions vary widely. Commercial banks are what we think of when we picture a bank and provide an array of services, from accepting deposits to issuing loans and safeguarding assets. They work with numerous clients, including the general public and businesses. In contrast, investment banks offer services to major corporations and institutional investors and may help in merger and acquisition transactions, issue securities, or provide financing for large-scale business projects. Recommended video: Investment banking explained Investing for beginners:

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What do investment banks do?

Investment banks are known for their role as middlemen between corporations and investors. With their expertise, they can offer a wide range of services, including:

Raise equity capital/IPO issuance: Investment banks are invaluable in assisting firms in raising capital through equity financing. In short, they facilitate the sale of ownership (or equity) within a corporation, thus securing necessary funds for the business. This is typically done through IPOs, where a private company transitions to public ownership by becoming listed on an exchange. They work closely with the issuing body to put together a prospectus for potential investors, determine the initial offering price, take care of the marketing and documentation, as well as the distribution of shares; Underwriting: Investment banks mitigate much of the risk associated with IPOs by purchasing the shares outright from issuers and selling them to public or institutional buyers; Raise debt capital: Investment banks also help governments and companies raise capital through debt financing, typically by issuing and underwriting bonds for the company (as well as pricing and acquiring credit ratings for those bonds). Ultimately, by purchasing bonds, investors essentially lend the company money and provide the necessary capital. Provide strategic advice: By offering strategic advice on a broad array of financial matters, an investment bank acts as a trusted advisor to major institutional investors; Facilitate mergers and acquisitions (M&A): The investment bank assesses a potential acquisition’s value and negotiates a fair price. Additionally, it provides a framework for facilitating the acquisition process and ensures that everything runs as smoothly as possible; Research: Investment banking firms maintain research departments that study companies and craft reports about their future outlook, often with buy, hold, or sell ratings. This research may not bring in immediate profits, yet it aids an investment bank’s internal traders and sales department while also offering clients comprehensive financial analysis and expert advice; Asset management: Investment banks provide expert advice and management of investments for a variety of clients across a wide range of investment styles– from large institutional investors to individuals with more modest portfolios; Proprietary trading: An internal team of money managers makes investments and trades using the company’s own money for its private account.

How do investment banks work?

All investment banking activity is split into two divisions: the buy side and the sell side. Larger service investment banks generally offer both the buy and sell side, whereas regional boutique banks might only specialize in a particular area, such as mergers and acquisitions. The buy side typically works with pension funds, hedge funds, mutual funds, and everyday investors to help them maximize their profits when investing in various asset classes. The selling arm of the bank, on the other hand, is involved with launching IPOs, placing bond issues, partaking in market-making services, as well as assisting clients in transactions. Investment banking activities are further divided into three distinct divisions based on the different services provided and employees’ responsibilities:

Front office: The front office is the vital division responsible for driving corporate profits, staffed with corporate finance and sales professionals; Middle office: The middle office sits between the front and back office and is responsible for risk management, as well as for the firm’s information technology. They may also evaluate the legal compliance of a transaction and ensure the transaction aligns with agreements; Back office: The back office is responsible for various operational concerns, mostly related to administrative tasks and clerical work, and some back offices also provide technical support (e.g., creating new trading algorithms).

How to become a banker?

A Bachelor’s degree in a finance-related area is typically required to begin your journey as an investment banker. However, you’ll find countless ways to develop and hone your skills through on-the-job training as well as supplemental certifications. Below, we have outlined the standard step-by-step course for becoming an investment banker and scoring one of the best-paying jobs in finance.

1. Earn a Bachelor’s degree

Generally, a Bachelor’s degree is the minimum required educational qualification to work as an investment banker, with candidates with degrees in finance, accounting, business administration, or related fields usually favored. However, certain investment banks might still require a Master’s degree for entry-level positions.

2. Gaining experience

For many aspiring investment bankers, their career journey begins with internships at various banking institutions during their undergraduate studies. Though not a requirement, an internship with a top firm can be instrumental in helping someone get their foot in the door. Additionally, internships offer invaluable on-the-job experience, which is essential for success. Recommended video: Day in the life of a Goldman Sachs investment banking intern

3. Obtain professional certifications

Investment bankers must obtain professional certifications from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). This is typically completed after getting hired, as the licensing process requires sponsorship from an employing firm. Investment banks often demand Series 63 and 79 licenses, although the specific requirements may differ depending on their role. You can also pursue optional certifications, such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification, which involves completing the CFA program and passing an exam.

4. On-the-job training

As an entry-level applicant, you will usually begin as an analyst and become fully prepared through a special training program your employer provides prior to taking on the job. Goldman Sachs, for instance, has Goldman Sachs University, which provides education to new analysts for 6-8 weeks. Depending on the financial institution, this training offers an in-depth exploration of accounting practices, markets, risk assessment, financial analysis, statement analysis, and financial modeling. A junior analyst can expect to spend about two years in the on-the-job training phase. Through on-the-job training, you’ll have a chance to sharpen your negotiation, presentation, and communication abilities. Moreover, employers regularly provide ongoing educational and professional development opportunities for entry-level investment bankers to encourage career progression. For those junior bankers who exceed expectations, there is ample opportunity for advancement into a senior role and the ability to oversee all aspects of transactions from inception to completion.

5. Advancing your career

You can advance your career in various ways once you start working as an investment banker. For example, suppose you decide to pursue investment banking with a Bachelor’s degree. In that case, your employer may assist you by aiding further education, certifications, or even training for the first few years of work. With the proper experience, you can apply for higher-level roles and gain more responsibility. For example, an entry-level investment banker can progress up the management ranks, such as vice president or director, where they will manage other analysts and associates beneath them.

Investment banker qualities

Working in finance can be incredibly rewarding and exciting, as well as nerve-wracking, high-pressured, and demanding. As a result, investment firms typically have stringent criteria when hiring employees, given the combination of mental and emotional aspects necessary in these jobs. To become a banker and thrive in a career as an investment banker, one must possess the following skills:

Intellect: The essential qualification for this role. A powerful intellect, especially one focusing on analytics, mathematics, finances, and economics, is a must to perform on the job efficiently. Additionally, investment banking necessitates a curious mind, prompting you to explore and comprehend not only your own projects but also how they intertwine with those of your colleagues; Self-discipline: Investment bankers, regardless of the role they fill within the industry, from entry-level analyst to managing director, work in a high-stress environment and must remain composed while operating under immense pressure. Many of these qualities are innate but can also be achieved through various rigorous undertakings such as graduating from law or medical school or athletic feats like competing on a collegiate sports team. With drive, determination, and perseverance, most people can learn how to develop these traits throughout life; Cultural competence: In today’s interconnected world, having an open-minded attitude and understanding different cultures and societies are essential for doing business on a global level. Combining that knowledge with an ability to communicate in more than one language is an invaluable asset in investment banking. Therefore, as you pursue a college education, take the opportunity to further enrich your experience by learning a new language or studying abroad; Relationship-building: The ability to deal with demanding clients in stressful situations, maintain a positive attitude and develop and support client relationships are characteristics that investment bankers must possess to succeed. After all, investment bankers make money based on the fees they receive from their clients, so it is paramount to have excellent interpersonal skills not only to acquire new customers but also to retain long-term ones; Creativity: While investment banking is often seen as a field requiring strict adherence to rules and regulations, creativity and inventive thinking are also highly valued skills. The ability to “think outside the box” might serve as the most potent trait for finding new innovative solutions, and while academics may reinforce it, it is often instinctive.

Career progression in investment banking

The career progression for investment bankers is as follows:

Analyst; Associate; Vice President; Director; Managing director.

Generally, undergraduates are recruited straight from university into a two-year analyst training scheme. If they successfully survive the first two years, they will be asked to complete the third year. The top-performing analysts are then rewarded with a promotion to an associate-level position. To go straight into an associate role with an investment bank, you must possess either an MBA or be in the process of obtaining one.

Investment banker salary explained

The salary of most investment bankers contains five components:

Investment banker salary – how much do they make?

Investment banking is one of the few careers where graduates can expect to make six figures. For example, the estimated total pay for an entry-level investment banking analyst is $140,866 per year in the United States, with an annual base salary of $97,323. The estimated additional compensation is $43,543 annually, typically including a signing bonus, end-of-year bonus, and commissions. The “most likely range” represents the values within the 25th and 75th percentile of all salary data available for this role. Senior investment bankers can make an astronomical amount of money annually, frequently reaching into the tens of millions. However, getting to the top of this field is an intricate, multi-stage journey that necessitates a combination of education, ambition, long hours, skill, experience, and connections, not to mention a bit of luck.

In conclusion

The common misconception is that anyone good with numbers will excel at a career as an investment banker. Yet, the best investment bankers, along with being math whizzes, also have exceptional communication and negotiation skills, a sharp intellect that allows them to think on their feet, and an unwavering work ethic– abilities that no equation can quantify. So, if you dream of a lavish lifestyle with fancy cars and exotic getaways, you must be ready to face the long hours that facilitate that opulence.

title: “What Is Investment Banking Tips On How To Become A Banker” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-20” author: “Alfred Arguello”