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Alex Mason
What information do you need to know as an aspiring investment banker? Join career-switcher and MBA student Alex Mason as we journey together to uncover the technical (including the famous "400 interview questions") and not-so-technical aspects of the investment banking profession. 
Total 347 episodes
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Case Studies In Investment Banking Interviews

Case Studies In Investment Banking Interviews

A trend is emerging among some investment banks, where case studies are becoming a component of the interview process. In today's episode, we discuss:why case studies can be relevant to investment banksthe two structures of case studies I've observedhow to approach preparation for case studiesFor recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
09:3219/11/2024
Jason Lum - The 'Bridge' Path to Investment Banking

Jason Lum - The 'Bridge' Path to Investment Banking

Today's episode features a conversation with finance consultant Jason Lum. Jason worked his way up to several high-finance roles - including a banking role at CIBC - from his time as an undergraduate at a non-target university in Canada. We discuss several aspects of the recruiting process, including:- using 'bridge' roles to land your IB job- the importance of combining networking with relevant experience- how to bounce back from a superday disaster!To connect with Jason, check him out at: https://jhlconsultinggroup.ca/ or on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-lum7/For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
31:0112/11/2024
Boeing Buys Spirit Aerosystems (Deal Pitch)

Boeing Buys Spirit Aerosystems (Deal Pitch)

Today we'll look at a real deal pitch example for a deal that's happening in the market right now. We cover the basic facts of the deal and what things you can point to in terms of the strategic rationale for the acquisition.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
15:2007/11/2024
Deal Pitch 101

Deal Pitch 101

Getting the typical "why investment banking" question is expected, but what if your interviewer expects you to go deeper?You might get asked for a deal pitch! Today we cover the basics of how to structure an answer to the question "pitch me a deal"For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
13:1130/10/2024
How To Become An IB Analyst w/Larry Oliver

How To Become An IB Analyst w/Larry Oliver

What does it take to become an investment banking analyst? When you do you need to start the process, and how do you keep track of so many deadlines?In today's conversation, I speak with Larry B Oliver. As a current IB analyst, Larry has experience navigating the analyst recruiting process and offers tips on how to best navigate it.Larry also runs The Pulse newsletter, a free resource helping aspiring bankers (and others in adjacent fields) stay on top of deadlines. Check it out in the link below:The Pulse Newsletter -- (beehiiv.com)For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
38:2721/10/2024
The Six Steps of Sell-Side M&A

The Six Steps of Sell-Side M&A

When a company mergers with another business or acquires a business, there is a standard process that investment banks go through to get the deal done. Today we explore these six steps.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
13:2414/10/2024
Valuation Ratios for Investment Bankers

Valuation Ratios for Investment Bankers

Today we discuss some common valuation ratios for investment bankers!For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
08:2901/10/2024
Lessons From The Summer Internship (Banking De-brief)

Lessons From The Summer Internship (Banking De-brief)

It's time to reflect on my summer internship in investment banking! Here are the high level lessons I learned.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
17:2216/09/2024
Back and Ready Fall 2024!

Back and Ready Fall 2024!

We’re back! A quick update for y’all.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
06:4305/09/2024
Valuation Methodologies You Should Know

Valuation Methodologies You Should Know

Aside from the basic three methods of valuing a company, here are a few other valuation methodologies you should know.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
04:3722/08/2024
Three Major Valuation Methodologies

Three Major Valuation Methodologies

Today we cover the three major valuation methodologies!1. Comparable Companies2. Precedent Transactions3. Discounted Cash FlowFor recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
06:2419/08/2024
How Do You Account For Convertible Bonds in Enterprise Value?

How Do You Account For Convertible Bonds in Enterprise Value?

You might know the basic equation for calculating enterprise value already. But how do you account for convertible bonds as part of that calculation?For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
04:0015/08/2024
Calculating Fully Diluted Shares (Treasury Stock Method)

Calculating Fully Diluted Shares (Treasury Stock Method)

Let's learn how to calculated fully diluted shares for a company using something called the Treasury Stock Method.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
08:3112/08/2024
Breaking Down Enterprise Value

Breaking Down Enterprise Value

Let's break down enterprise value together today!For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
07:1808/08/2024
Goodwill: What Is It Anyway?

Goodwill: What Is It Anyway?

Goodwill is one of those weird accounting concepts that doesn't come naturally at first. But it's super important and not that hard to understand once you break down the underlying logic of it. Today we'll learn about goodwill! It's critical for investment bankers to know, particularly in the context of mergers and acquisitions.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
07:2005/08/2024
Let's Talk About EBITDA

Let's Talk About EBITDA

What is EBITDA and why do we care about it as investment bankers?For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
06:5201/08/2024
GAAP vs Non-GAAP Earnings

GAAP vs Non-GAAP Earnings

What's the difference between GAAP and the ambiguous "Non-GAAP" earnings that we often see in company financials? For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
06:3029/07/2024
When Do You Capitalize Or Expense A Purchase?

When Do You Capitalize Or Expense A Purchase?

Capitalizing a purchase vs expensing it can be understood by looking at the differences between the Income Statement and the Balance Sheet. Let's check it out!For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
10:2825/07/2024
Why Collecting Cash Is Different From Earning Revenue

Why Collecting Cash Is Different From Earning Revenue

I used to think that when a business "made money" it was the same thing as earning revenue, as well as collecting cash. But then I realized I was wrong. Today we cover a basic accounting principle that's important for investment bankers to understand when looking at financial statements.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
09:5322/07/2024
How Do You Account For Asset Write-Downs?

How Do You Account For Asset Write-Downs?

When an asset gets written down in value, how does that impact the financial statements? What happens when debt gets written down too?For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
14:2918/07/2024
Working Capital Explained

Working Capital Explained

What does it mean for capital to be "working"? Today we unpack this concept, which is plays an important role in understanding the balance sheet, cash flow, and projecting cash flows in a DCF model.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
11:2115/07/2024
Negative Shareholder's Equity - Is It Possible?

Negative Shareholder's Equity - Is It Possible?

Can Shareholder's Equity be negative on the balance sheet? And if so, how?For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
11:5411/07/2024
Company Sells A Product

Company Sells A Product

What happens when a company sells a product, and how are the financial statements impacted? We'll assume the product is sold for $20 and it costs $10 make.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
10:2808/07/2024
Company Buys A Factory

Company Buys A Factory

What happens to the financial statements when a company buys a factory with debt? We'll look at this scenario at Year 0, Year 1, and the end of Year 2 / start of Year 3.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
18:3004/07/2024
When Inventory Goes Up By $10

When Inventory Goes Up By $10

How do you account for changes in the financial statements when inventory increases by $10?For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
08:3301/07/2024
Walk Me Through $10 Of Accrued Compensation

Walk Me Through $10 Of Accrued Compensation

How does accrued compensation work on the financial statements? Today we'll work through a simple problem to find out.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
11:0227/06/2024
Walk Me Through $10 Of Depreciation

Walk Me Through $10 Of Depreciation

Let's put our knowledge of financial statements and depreciation to work to solve a simple investment banking accounting question.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
13:5924/06/2024
Understanding Depreciation and Amortization

Understanding Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and Amortization always seems like funny concepts to me, but now that I have studied them in more detail I understand why they exist.Today we'll go over the basics of what D&A actually are and why they matter.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
10:4220/06/2024
Connecting The Three Financial Statements

Connecting The Three Financial Statements

We covered what the three financial statements are, and their most basic components. What how do they connect to each other? We'll cover some of the major connections between the three financial statements.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
15:3617/06/2024
Cash Flow Statement Fundamentals

Cash Flow Statement Fundamentals

Today we're talking about the fundamentals of the cash flow statement! (my personal favorite)For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
12:2713/06/2024
Income Statement Fundamentals

Income Statement Fundamentals

Today we're covering the fundamentals of the Income StatementFor recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
12:0610/06/2024
It All Comes Down To This

It All Comes Down To This

It’s time for Day One.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
04:0910/06/2024
Balance Sheet Fundamentals

Balance Sheet Fundamentals

Today we explore the fundamentals of the balance sheet!For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
14:1106/06/2024
How To Do Final Internship Prep

How To Do Final Internship Prep

How to do final preparation before starting your internship!For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
13:0703/06/2024
Where I’m Going This Summer

Where I’m Going This Summer

A quick update on life, and where I’m interning this summer!For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
09:4806/05/2024
The 6 Levels Of Investment Banker Responsibility

The 6 Levels Of Investment Banker Responsibility

What are the different levels of responsibility of an investment banker?For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
13:0824/04/2024
The Investment Banking Landscape In The U.S.

The Investment Banking Landscape In The U.S.

What types of banks exist in the U.S? Today we'll talk about three broad categories:Bulge BracketsLarge IndependentsSmaller IndependentsThanks for enjoying this episode via audio or on YouTube!For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
13:1423/04/2024
Accounting Basics For Investment Bankers

Accounting Basics For Investment Bankers

As Investment Bankers we certainly don't have to know the finer details of accounting - what we do have to know the basics! Here are some of the essential concepts we should know as investment bankers.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
11:5818/04/2024
Coverage VS Product Groups

Coverage VS Product Groups

What's the difference between a coverage and a product group at an investment bank? Today we'll learn the basics.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
11:1815/04/2024
From Non-Target To IB Success With Matthew Farquhar

From Non-Target To IB Success With Matthew Farquhar

Matthew Farquhar started out as an undergrad in Canada trying to figure out how to break into Investment Banking. At first, it wasn't going well.Unanswered emails, coffee chats that went nowhere...not to mention he was coming from a "non-target" university.Fast forward several months, and he landed a prestigious Investment Banking internship in the US.Now, Matthew helps other students like him break into banking with his firm, FR Consulting. Today we learn about what mistakes Matthew made in his recruiting process...and what he learned to do right.https://www.linkedin.com/in/farquharmatthew/?originalSubdomain=caFor recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
01:00:5411/04/2024
Why Do You Want To Work Here?

Why Do You Want To Work Here?

It's not enough to know your story and to know why you want to go into Investment Banking. It's important to have clarity about why you want to work for *a specific bank*.How do we answer this question? For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
10:4008/04/2024
Why Investment Banking?

Why Investment Banking?

Today we answer the fundamental interview question "Why Investment Banking?"For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
09:5904/04/2024
Tell Me About Yourself (The Pitch)

Tell Me About Yourself (The Pitch)

Tell Me About Yourself - The Pitch!Quite possibility THE most important interview question.For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
25:1801/04/2024
Be An Asset Wherever You Go With Sandy Li

Be An Asset Wherever You Go With Sandy Li

Today we have a special episode of an interview with Sandy Li. Sandy is a Wharton alum, former investment banker, and recruiter. She currently works as an executive coach teaching important skills like executive presence and discovering your unique value proposition.I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation and have listened to this multiple times for my own learning. Enjoy!Learn more about Sandy at: https://www.sandyliexec.com/For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
01:09:3928/03/2024
Five Reasons Not To Pursue Investment Banking

Five Reasons Not To Pursue Investment Banking

Five Reasons Not To Pursue Investment BankingFor recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
15:1525/03/2024
What Is Investment Banking?

What Is Investment Banking?

What exactly is investment banking?For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
09:5421/03/2024
Investment Banking Insights Is Now On YouTube!

Investment Banking Insights Is Now On YouTube!

We're on YouTube now!!:)For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
09:1418/03/2024
Quick Update On The Show

Quick Update On The Show

Quick update on the showFor recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
01:4214/03/2024
The State Of Investment Banking 2024

The State Of Investment Banking 2024

The State Of Investment Banking 2024For recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
12:0112/03/2024
The Myth Of Accretion

The Myth Of Accretion

The Myth Of AccretionFor recruiting help, join the WSO Academy waitlist today!Contact: [email protected]
07:1311/03/2024