DA Davidson IBD

Does anyone know much about the firm? I know they are a top middle-market/boutique in the Pacific Northwest, but do they have any legitimacy outside that geographic area?

Also, anyone work or previously work there?

Thanks in advance

 

Wow, it's really nice to see another PNWer on WSO! I'm from the PNW and from what I've seen, they're quite legit. They're consistently toward the top of M&A tables in my city (not gonna disclose this online). I don't work in the industry (looking to break in), so take what i say with a grain of salt, but from my research, I'd say they're probably one of the best along with Pacific Crest Securities. Are you interviewing there?

 

I have a phone interview coming up.

Thanks for your insight, the firm is pretty hard to find info on. From what I've read/heard, they focus on banking, and have somewhat of an outdoor recreation niche. Also have bankers in at least one city where they have a major client (what I've heard). The example I had for this was Salt Lake with Energy Solutions as client (not sure the validity).

Are you looking at them too?

 

Hey man, I'm from the PNW as well. Do you have any advice for landing an offer there? I'm about to be a senior at a school nearby (PM if you want details) and am looking to work in M&A and whatnot, so any advice would be very helpful!

Pretty women make us BUY beer. Ugly women make us DRINK beer.
 
Al Bundy:
Hey man, I'm from the PNW as well. Do you have any advice for landing an offer there? I'm about to be a senior at a school nearby (PM if you want details) and am looking to work in M&A and whatnot, so any advice would be very helpful!

Bump

Pretty women make us BUY beer. Ugly women make us DRINK beer.
 

Similar to other smaller places, obviously follow on the website job openings and see if you can get in touch with a banker in the area.

Keep in mind, because of the size there aren't typical recruiting seasons with many offers. I'm the only analyst in my location. However, as the division continues to grow I think the number of offers will as well.

Shoot me a message if you have additional questinos

 
CHIIBMONKEY:

Bump. Anyone have any insight into the interview? Technical? Fit?

Hey Monkey, I just went through the interview with this company last week. I don't think I got the job, I choked bad in the interview. Anyway, the interview material that needs to be studied is on selling on the phone and in person. They have one person pretend to be a client that you are talking with on the phone and you need to persuade them to come into your office for a face-to-face interview. The second part is that the client has actually came into your office and is looking to switch investment advisors. Make sure that you get as many details as possible about the client. Ask a lot of questions about them, and their finances. That is where I made my mistakes. Also keep in mind that there are 4 other people evaluating your performance while you are talking with one person. Even though I don't think I got the job, I still think it is a good firm to invest with. I hope this helped and post how it goes.
 
CHIIBMONKEY:

Thanks for the tips but I interviewed with their IBD division. It was totally different actually super easy. Walk me through a DCF, how do all 3 of the statements connects, why DA Davidson, why IB. Super easy. It seems like you were defiantly interviewing for a PWM position. Good luck anyways! Hope you got it.

Has anyone else interviewed with this company. Tomorrow will be a week and I haven't heard anything either way. Like I said earlier, I don't think I got the job, but I don't know how long it takes to hear anything. If anyone has interviewed for a Financial Consultant position with them lately, please let me know the process. Also, if I hear anything within the next few days, I will post on here.
 

Well, from my previous post. I found out I didn't get the job. After that, I talked with the branch manager, whom I had been talking with for the past 6 months and I asked him straight up if he could have pulled strings and got me the job. He said that he could, but that he didn't think it was the right time. I even told him that since I already had my Series 7 and 66 license and a clean U4 that I would work for them on a commission only base and continue to work in my current job and if I didn't bring in $2 million dollars in new assets in 3 months that I would quit and turn the assets over to another broker in the office. The branch manager said that they would consider it. After much debate, they said that they still weren't interested. That is fine, afterall, if the firm is foolish enough to let that a no risk opportunity go, then the hell with them. After talking again with the branch manager he said, if you start an RIA on your own and are successful, then call us in a couple of years and we will consider you then. Anyway, I guess it is just sour grapes on my part, but why wouldn't you take a chance on someone already licensed?

 

Echo comp below street. The alum I talked to worked at the Montana office, but he seemed to have decent work balance as far as banking goes. Forget what he said about dealflow exactly, def not a place with a bunch of live deals all time though. I think it's an interesting option if you're set on a non-standard banking city such as Seattle, but otherwise I would aim for something better. Because it's a smaller shop recruiting often doesn't follow the standard cycle.

 

I don't know the exact AUM figure but these guys are big. Your estimate is probably pretty close. DK has been around longer than most in the HF space. Their roots are in credit, primarily distressed, but like most others these days have deviated somewhat to other areas. The firm has a solid reputation and is probably a decent place to work. The past year or so hasn't been great for performance but they likely have a loyal base of investors that will stick with them and see how they fare in the upcoming distressed cycle. I don't know anything about their recruiting process.

 

Actually a pretty solid shop. Strong presence in the West. Specialty is FIG, but also sees some O&G (location is a plus if you are in MT), C&R and Industrial deals.

Industrials is led out of Chicago FIG co-led out of Cali and Chicago (Cali will be the strongest) Aerospace & Defense (led out of Cali) Consumer & Retail is spread out (MD in Seattle may be the lead, not sure though)

Done well lately.

 
Best Response

I have a friend who is a senior analyst on the FIG team in Chicago. From what we have talked about he likes it. He still works 110+ hours a week (similar to BB), but he is the head junior guy in the office now. It isn't a BB, but it is a very active shop for the size. I know the two FIG MDs in Chicago were heavy hitters at a smaller regional firm before coming to D.A. Davidson. I also know that the Chicago office is only a year old. When you look at the league tables for FIG the Davidson Chicago office is killing it...for a small team. I don't know much about the California office, only that it is more established and it is also doing very well in the league tables. If I remember correctly Davidson might have a food and beverage team in Chicago, but I cannot find them in the league tables.

I am not sure what the exist opportunities look like or pay. We never really talked about that. Maybe someone else can give you insight on those. Hopefully this helps...

"Don't touch the watch." -Patrick Bateman U AWARE BRAH? bankers gonna bank \o/ Trance Crew \o/
 

@Group Therapy would be possible to put me in contact with your friend who is a Senior Analyst who is a senior analyst on the FIG team in Chicago? You can pm. I would rather go into more detail in a pm, than on a comment post.

 

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