Investment Banking: Overview
Breaking into investment banking can feel overwhelming, particularly for students and professionals who are still evaluating whether the industry is the right fit. Whether you are exploring investment banking or preparing to recruit for Analyst or Associate roles, this package is designed to provide a practical overview of the investment banking industry, helping you better understand the work, career paths, and opportunities available across different firms and groups. Topics may include: *Industry Overview* - Understand the services investment banks provide and how they fit within the broader financial ecosystem. *Banks & Groups* - Learn the differences between Bulge Bracket, Elite Boutique, Middle Market, and Regional firms, as well as the distinctions between industry coverage and product groups. *Day in the Life* - Gain insight into the day-to-day responsibilities of Analysts, Associates, Vice Presidents, Directors, and Managing Directors. *Career Progression* - Explore common career trajectories, compensation expectations, lifestyle considerations, and long-term opportunities within and beyond investment banking. The objective is simple: provide clarity on what investment banking is, how the industry works, and whether it is the right path for you.
What's included
This package is delivered through a live 1:1 discussion tailored to your background, experience level, and career goals. We'll cover the fundamentals of investment banking, including bank and group structures, day-to-day responsibilities, career progression, compensation, and lifestyle considerations. Throughout the session, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions and explore topics most relevant to your interests and objectives. You'll leave with a clearer understanding of the industry and greater confidence evaluating whether investment banking is the right fit for you.
- A clear understanding of how investment banks are structured and generate revenue
- Insight into the differences between Bulge Bracket, Elite Boutique, Middle Market, and Regional firms
- An understanding of industry coverage groups, product groups, and common career paths
- A realistic view of the day-to-day responsibilities, lifestyle, and compensation of investment bankers
- Greater confidence evaluating whether investment banking is the right fit for your background, interests, and long-term goals
Meet your expert
TJ H.
Ex-BofA Director | Investment Banking Recruiting & Transitions
I’m currently co-founder of Fownder Group - a founder focused advisory and investment banking firm as well as a former investment banking Director with ~15 years of total experience, including ~9 years of bulge bracket investment banking experience, advising founders, private equity sponsors, and management teams on M&A, capital raises, and strategic finance. Over the course of my career, I’ve advised on ~$15bn in completed transaction value. I began my investment banking career in 2016 in the large-cap Consumer & Retail group in New York at Bank of America Securities, before transferring to the large-cap Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) group, and later relocating to San Diego in 2020 as a VP to help build out the firm’s Middle Market Investment Banking platform—joining as the 40th hire on a team that scaled to ~250 bankers. I went on to launch and lead the firm’s middle-market Residential & Commercial Services sector coverage initiative, building the strategy from the ground up and driving origination and execution across a highly fragmented, founder-owned market. I have executed large-scale transactions, including the $6.0bn take-private of Tech Data and the $5.5bn acquisition financing for Bass Pro Group’s acquisition of Cabela's, as well as a range of middle-market transactions in the $100–$300mm enterprise value range. In addition to my day-to-day efforts to source and execute transactions, I served as the inaugural Associate Development Officer for the Middle Market group, focused on improving the associate experience and increasing the overall quality of the associate class. I mentored ~90 associates and helped shape training, performance management, and feedback processes across the platform.
