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Tactical insights on recruiting strategy, interview preparation, and career navigation in finance.
Bulge Bracket Investment Banking Salary 2026: Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, BofA & Citi Compared
Detailed 2026 compensation data for every level at the five major bulge bracket banks—base salary, bonuses, total comp, and how each bank stacks up. Sourced from WSO, M&I, and industry compensation surveys.
Elite Boutique Investment Banking Salary 2026: Evercore, Centerview, PJT, Lazard & Moelis Compared
Detailed 2026 compensation data for the top five elite boutique banks—how they compare to each other and to bulge brackets, with data from WSO, Prospect Rock, and industry surveys.
Investment Banking in Hong Kong & Singapore: The 2026 Guide
Everything you need to know about breaking into investment banking in Asia's two biggest financial hubs—recruiting timelines, compensation, language requirements, target schools, and how Asia IB differs from New York.
Investment Banking Superday Guide 2027: What to Expect and How to Prepare
Everything you need to know about the 2027 IB Superday process—HireVue assessments, interview formats, technical and behavioral prep, and the mistakes that cost candidates offers.
Middle Market Investment Banking Salary 2026: Jefferies, Houlihan Lokey, William Blair, Piper Sandler & More
2026 compensation data for the top middle-market banks—how they compare to bulge brackets and elite boutiques, and why the pay gap is smaller than you think. Data from WSO, M&I, and industry surveys.
Non-Target to Summer 2027 Analyst: The Complete Playbook
How to break into investment banking from a non-target school for summer 2027—the networking system, resume strategy, timeline, and alternative paths that actually work.
2027 Summer Analyst Recruiting Timeline: The Complete Guide
The definitive month-by-month timeline for 2027 summer analyst recruiting—when applications open, interview windows, Superday dates, and exactly what to do at each stage.
Target Schools for Investment Banking in Asia: The Definitive Ranking
Which universities actually place students into investment banking in Hong Kong and Singapore? Data-backed rankings for NUS, SMU, NTU, CUHK, HKU, HKUST—and what to do if you're not at one.
How the 3 Financial Statements Are Linked (With Examples)
The #1 accounting question in finance interviews. Walk through the exact logic of how income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement connect—with the coffee shop example interviewers love.
PE Case Study Examples 2026: What Top Funds Actually Ask
Real private equity case study examples from 2025-2026 recruiting—investment memos, take-home LBOs, and live case formats used by Blackstone, KKR, Apollo, and megafunds.
PE Compensation 2026: What Associates Actually Make (By Level and Fund Type)
Real compensation data for private equity in 2025-2026—from Associate to Partner, megafund to lower-middle-market. Base, bonus, co-invest, and when carry starts to matter.
12 Accounting Interview Questions for Investment Banking (With Answers)
The exact accounting questions asked at Goldman, Morgan Stanley, and Evercore—with the 30-second answers that get checkmarks and the deep dives that get offers.
Enterprise Value vs. Equity Value: The Complete Guide
The house analogy that makes EV click forever. EV bridge formula, diluted shares, treasury stock method, and why matching multiples wrong is the fastest way to get dinged.
Networking Mastery for Non-Target Students: The 100-Email Strategy That Works
The exact networking playbook non-target students use to land interviews—volume requirements, tracking systems, and relationship-building tactics.
The 7 PE Headhunters That Control Megafund Access (And How to Approach Each)
Seven headhunting firms dominate private equity placement in North America. Understanding their specialties, coverage, and preferences is essential for on-cycle success.
The Boutique Bank Path: Why Starting Small Can Lead to Bigger Opportunities
How boutique and middle-market banks can be the perfect entry point for non-target students—and the path to bulge brackets or PE from there.
Walk Me Through a DCF: The Perfect Interview Answer
The 6-step DCF framework that gets offers at Goldman, Evercore, and Lazard. Includes UFCF formula, terminal value methods, and the common mistakes that get candidates dinged.
Walk Me Through Your Resume: The IB Interview Guide
Master the most important question in every investment banking interview—structure, examples, and the exact framework that gets offers.
Finance Certifications That Actually Matter: Building Credentials Without a Target School Name
Which certifications help non-target students stand out—CFA, Bloomberg, FMVA, and more—and which are a waste of time.
WACC Explained Simply for Finance Interviews
Break down WACC into its components—cost of equity (CAPM), cost of debt, and capital structure weights—with the formulas, intuition, and interview-ready answers.
Big 4 to Investment Banking: The Complete Lateral Playbook
How to transition from Big 4 (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) to investment banking—the timeline, positioning strategy, and what actually works.
Non-Target to Investment Banking: The Complete 2026 Playbook
The realistic, step-by-step guide for breaking into investment banking from a non-target school—networking strategy, resume positioning, and timeline management.
Trading Comps vs. Precedent Transactions: Complete Guide
How to run a full comparable company analysis and precedent transaction analysis—the step-by-step process, worked examples, and the control premium concept interviewers always test.
Accretion/Dilution Analysis Explained (With M&A Interview Questions)
The P/E rule for stock deals, goodwill and purchase price allocation, stock vs. asset deals, and every major M&A concept tested in banking interviews—with worked examples.
Building Your Finance Profile Without Campus Recruiting
How non-target students can build competitive candidacies when banks don't come to their campus—alternative paths, resume building, and self-directed preparation.
PE On-Cycle Timeline 2026: When to Apply, What to Expect
The complete private equity on-cycle recruiting timeline for 2026—when headhunters call, interview windows, and how to prepare before the chaos begins.
When Does PE Recruiting Start in 2026? The Complete Timeline
The exact PE recruiting timeline for 2026—when headhunters reach out, when on-cycle kicks off, key dates to prepare for, and what to do at each stage.
100 Investment Banking Technical Interview Questions (With Answers)
The most frequently asked technical questions in IB interviews—accounting, valuation, M&A, and LBO—with concise answers that demonstrate competence.
LBO Model Walkthrough: The 5-Step Framework
Build an LBO from scratch—sources & uses, debt structure, cash flow projections, returns analysis, and the 4 return drivers every PE interviewer tests.
Can You Get Into Investment Banking With a Low GPA? (3.0, 3.2, 3.5)
Honest advice on breaking into IB with a sub-3.5 GPA—what's actually possible and the specific strategies that work.
Is It Too Late to Get Into Investment Banking? (By Age and Stage)
Whether you're 25, 30, or 35—here's the honest answer on age limits in IB and what paths remain open.
How to Answer 'Why Investment Banking?' (With Examples That Actually Work)
The framework for answering the most common IB interview question—plus word-for-word examples for different backgrounds.
Paper LBO: Step-by-Step Example with Template
Master the paper LBO with this comprehensive guide—the exact framework PE firms expect, worked examples, and the shortcuts that save time in timed case studies.
Private Equity Recruiting Timeline 2026: On-Cycle, Off-Cycle, and What to Expect
The complete PE recruiting calendar for 2026—when headhunters call, how to prepare, and navigating compressed timelines.
How to Cold Email Investment Bankers (Templates That Actually Get Replies)
The exact cold email templates, subject lines, and follow-up strategy that gets responses from busy bankers.
Walk Me Through a DCF: The Perfect Interview Answer (Step-by-Step)
Exactly how to answer the most common IB technical question—with the structure and details that impress interviewers.
Hedge Fund Recruiting in 2026: How to Break In From Banking, Research, and Other Paths
Complete guide to hedge fund recruiting timelines, interview processes, and what top funds look for in 2026.
Investment Banking Exit Opportunities: Complete Guide to What Comes Next
PE, hedge funds, corporate development, startups—every IB exit path explained with realistic timelines and requirements.
Investment Banking Summer Analyst Recruiting 2026: Complete Timeline and Strategy
Everything you need to know about landing a 2026 IB summer analyst position—timelines, preparation, and what banks actually look for.
Bulge Bracket vs Elite Boutique vs Middle Market Banks: Which Is Right for You?
Honest comparison of bank types—pay, hours, deal experience, exits, and culture differences that actually matter.
Best Finance Internships for 2026: Complete Guide to Summer Programs
Comprehensive ranking of 2026 finance internships across investment banking, private equity, hedge funds, and more—plus how to land them.
Investment Banking Superday: What to Expect and How to Prepare
Hour-by-hour breakdown of Superdays—what they test, how to prepare, and strategies for back-to-back interviews.
Investment Banking Salaries and Bonuses 2026: Complete Compensation Guide
Updated 2026 compensation data for investment banking analysts, associates, VPs, and MDs across bulge brackets and elite boutiques.
How to Lateral from Big 4 to Investment Banking (TAS, Audit, Advisory)
The realistic path from Deloitte, PwC, EY, or KPMG into IB—timeline, positioning, and what actually gets you hired.
Accretion/Dilution Interview Question: How to Answer Perfectly
Master the M&A technical question that trips up most candidates—with quick rules and example walkthroughs.
Non-Target to Investment Banking in 2026: The Realistic Playbook
How to break into investment banking from a non-target school in 2026—networking strategies, timeline, and what actually works.
Paper LBO Example: How to Solve It in 10 Minutes (With Practice Problems)
Step-by-step framework for solving paper LBOs by hand—the exact method that works in PE interviews.
How to Break Into Investment Banking in 2026: Non-Target, Target, and Lateral Paths
The complete guide to IB recruiting—timelines, networking strategies, and what actually works for each pathway.
Investment Banking Resume Example and Complete Checklist
The exact structure, bullet point formula, and deal-breakers you need to survive the 30-second screen.
The Only Order You Should Learn Investment Banking Technicals In
Accounting → Valuation → DCF → M&A → LBO: why sequence matters more than study time.
Cold Emailing Bankers: Exact Scripts, Subject Lines, and Follow-Up Strategies
The 5 golden rules, plug-and-play templates, and timing strategies that actually get responses in 2026.
Mastering the Investment Banking Behavioral Interview
How to nail 'Walk me through your resume,' the 'Why' questions, and the Airport Test.
Go Deeper With Our Playbooks
These articles provide a foundation. Our Playbooks deliver the complete frameworks, scripts, and detailed preparation materials you need to compete at the highest level.
Browse Playbooks