Q&A with Flake, “Don’t waste your time and energy in a back office role.”

How do I even begin to introduce Flake? More than anything else, Flake is really here for our enjoyment. Sure, maybe Flake is not as helpful as the legendary CompBanker, but that does not mean he is undeserving a Q&A. Within our interview, there are some real, solid lessons about the realities of networking from the back office to score an elusive FO role. Give the man props, because the BO-to-FO move is the epitome of doing the non-target hustle.

Although Flake has previously done an equity research focused Q&A, I wanted to sit down with him to discuss his back-office transition and his feelings about his current ER role. In this Q&A, Flake discusses his background, how to internally network from the back office, and the qualities of a successfully ER associate.

Please, enjoy, and make sure to look out for more of my Q&A’s with our more experienced users.


MF: Let's talk about your background, education, etc. - where did you come from? How did you get your initial Back Office job? What makes you special?

Flake: I went to a non-target state school, and graduated in 2009. How non-target? Well, a few weeks ago I had a meeting with a CEO of one of the companies under my coverage and he asked what school I attended (he was a Wharton UG and MBA man himself). I had to look at the floor, kick around a bit, and mutter the name under my breath.

Where did I come from? Russia, over a decade ago.

I had two summer analyst interviews for my junior year, one was an operations position at the BB that I currently work at, and the other was Blackrock PAG. Looking back, I realize neither of those was great, but I was ecstatic to receive the offers. Given that I was clueless back then, I made my decision based on brand name (I didn’t even know what in the world Blackrock was, seriously).

I thought I was the shit. I thought, “This is it, this is that Finance job that everyone keeps talking about.” I was proud of myself for not even trying and getting those. At $55,000 a year and $10,000 bonus at signing I figured I was well on my way of hitting that $100,000 by 30 goal (seriously, again). If I knew myself back then, I would have slapped the sh*t out of that kid.

What makes me special? The helmet, I guess.

-

MF: How did you know you wanted to work in equity research, if anything?

Flake: I didn’t know I wanted ER until I received my full-time offer at the end of my BB ops summer gig. After doing mindless shit for 10 weeks straight, it finally hit me that there are different divisions within the bank. I realized that operations was not what I wanted and it was definitely not “it”. I still signed the offer given the circumstances.

It was Fall ’08, I believe, and firms were cancelling OCR interviews at the time. I picked up the pace a bit during my senior year and came up with a master plan: 1) work in my BO job at 25% capacity, 2) spend the other 75% learning everything there is to learn about ER and IBD (my passion for both was a result of taking a couple of corporate finance classes during senior year), 3)???, and finally, 4) transition to ER or IB. More on this later…

After reading maybe 4-5 different books on investment banking, becoming addicted to WSJ and Barron’s, and speaking briefly to an ER associate who I met randomly- I knew what I wanted to do.

-

MF: Are you an analyst or associate?

Flake: As you may know, an analyst is more senior than an associate in a sell-side ER hierarchy. This is an external structure that we use for clients, reports, etc. Internally, we still follow the whole Analyst>Associate>VP>Director>MD structure. So my corporate/internal title is a 1st year Associate. Previously, I was an analyst for 2 years (split evenly between ER and BO).

-

MF: You mentioned that you networked your way to an FO associate job (granted some of it was sheer luck)... how would you recommend going about internally networking? What did you learn from your experience of almost getting the boot from networking a little too hard?

Flake: With networking, just be normal. I didn’t want to come off as some try-hard desperate brown-noser, and at the same time I didn’t want to come off self-entitled and cocky. Just be modest, be curious (bi-curious if that’s your thing), ask good questions, let the person talk about himself or herself, and just be able to shoot the sh*t with the person if it comes to that.

Despite my short career and my inexperience, I am still contacted by random people who want to “network” with me. Sure, I meet them. We talk, or try to. Some of them try so hard you can smell their bullshit from a mile away. The others say shit like “so my main concern is that ER is all about writing and modeling, I just don’t want to be stuck looking at an excel sheet all day”. Yes, valid question, but you don’t have to sound like a dick when phrasing it.

You can find my detailed BO to FO story in that Q&A thread I started in December. What I learned: if you want something, you go and get it. All good things require sacrifices; otherwise they are called hand-outs (occupy my ass). If I could go back to the BO, I would do the exact same thing.

-

MF: Talk to us about how to use a company directory?

Flake: Using the directory should be easy. I don’t know how it works at other firms, but I can filter mine by division, title, team, etc, which made it relatively easy to find the people you wanted. The one thing I fucked up on was cold emailing a tech analyst in SF, asking him to grab lunch/coffee. I’m in New York. So just pay attention. When you’re excited to email someone you can make a dumb mistake like that.

Lastly, if ER is your thing, you should have access to your bank’s research reports. Form your questions around those notes when emailing an analyst or an associate. Don’t ask obvious sh*t either; get a little creative with it to show that you are knowledgeable and interested in that sector. Otherwise, I will just attach a copy of my report and tell you to “look on page 3.”

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MF: What is more important, a superior technical knowledge or superior amicable personality?

Flake: I would never isolate one of those and say that’s the most important. It is a mix of both…also sex appeal helps. For example, I would attribute 90% of my ER transition to my handsomeness. But seriously, you do need both though.

Technical:

1) Helps instill confidence in your clients and establish your credibility as a reliable source of information 2) Having something like the CFA charter should help with your potential move to the buy side 3) Knowing your sh*t will also make your analyst more comfortable with giving you greater responsibility. Your analyst has to be confident in your analysis and at some point the analyst shouldn’t feel like he or she needs to hold your hand.

Amicable personality:

1) ER analysts are not anti-social and they are not geeks or nerds or whatever I’ve seen thrown around occasionally 2) you need be personable when interacting with big institutional accounts and c-level executives of the industry that you cover.

-

MF: What grinds your gears the most when it comes to daily interaction with people (be it supervisors or subordinates)?

Flake: I don’t like people who act self-entitled. I don’t like anyone who constantly argues and tries to convince you they are right, even though they have been wrong the previous 10 times in a row. I don’t like people who get offended easily or can’t handle constructive criticism. I like modesty. I like someone I can grab a drink with and talk about anything, including WORK. Yes, work. Just because you hate your job doesn’t mean I hate mine and should shy away from discussing it in a social setting.

I have one subordinate, if you will; he is a “research assistant”. The thing I hate about him is his lack of attention to detail and his inability to take ownership of what I tell him to do. I feel like he does shit just to finish it, he doesn’t care about the end result and everything he hands over to me is sloppy.

My boss on the other hand, is exactly the type of person I just described. I can talk to him about anything and everything. He is easy-going but he can be strict and he can be a dick if the timing is right and shit needs to get done. That’s what I usually look for in a man.

-

MF: You're one of the people that transitioned from Operations to the Front Office, what advice would you give someone who is trying to do the same thing?

Flake: I may be biased, but don’t waste your time and energy on excelling in your back office or middle office role if your goal is to move as soon as possible. If you are one of those people that thinks your current boss in BO/MO will “refer” you to that banking MD if you work your ass off, you are kind of wrong. That shit doesn’t happen.

Focus on networking and studying (be it for the CFA, GMAT, or just reading relevant books/news). Don’t spend too much time working there. If you are still in a back office role two years after you graduated it is time to pack your stuff and go to business school…that’s just my opinion of course.

What I do now is not related to my BO position at all.

-

MF: What is the most positive part of ER and what is the most negative?

Flake: I discussed most of this in my Q&A thread as well.

My favorite part is that it’s not all grunt work. Even when a client uses me for informational purposes and doesn’t really care about my Buy/Sell/Hold rating (no one does really), I still feel like my opinion is valued and sought after. Every time I hear “Thanks for your time and insight, Flake, very helpful” I get a kick out of that.

When was the last time someone who’s twice your age, who is making probably 15-20x of what you make a year, and who is managing billions of dollars, thanked you for your “insight” or your “time?”

What’s the most negative thing about my job? They could pay me more money.

-

MF: What are some basic qualities specifically needed to be successful at an ER job?

Flake: Confidence. Attention to detail. You must have a passion for your sector and the markets (otherwise you’re just bored). Have the ability to write well, and being selectively direct and concise (not my best quality).

-

MF: Will you be attending the WSO conference?

Flake: I have my ticket to the WSO conference. I don’t know what I’m doing yet, I might dedicate that Saturday to a catnap.

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MF: Why do you feel like it is important to give back in the realm of solid advice to the WSO community?

Flake: I didn’t even know WSO existed before I started in ER… so I really don’t have anyone here to thank for anything. I never even thought of going on an Internet forum to seek advice on my career or networking, but I sure wish I did. It would have made my transition a lot easier, and more importantly; I would not have felt like I was the only one trying to take that leap. Also, I would like to give back occasionally in return for Patrick letting me troll WSO 90% of the time.

-

MF: I usually open up the end of the Q&A to say anything you may wish (just be nice).

Flake: I just want to give a few shout outs to the people who keep me entertained on WSO:

Nouveau Richie, shorttheworld, heister, Determined, Whiskey5, duffmt6, ekimlacks, WellPlayed, Midas Mulligan Magoo (RIP), swagon, TonyPerkis, malvvar, rothyman, and ah. If I forgot someone, I’m not sorry.


Check my past Q&A’s:

Heister (HF)- My Total Worth is North of $50 Million

Patrick Curtis (PE, WSO Founder) Part 1 Patrick Curtis (PE, WSO Founder) Part 2

CompBanker (PE) Part 1 CompBanker (PE) Part 2

64 Comments
 

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“Millionaires don't use astrology, billionaires do”
 

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My name is Nicky, but you can call me Dre.
 

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I don't accept sacrifices and I don't make them. ... If ever the pleasure of one has to be bought by the pain of the other, there better be no trade at all. A trade by which one gains and the other loses is a fraud.
 

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I don't accept sacrifices and I don't make them. ... If ever the pleasure of one has to be bought by the pain of the other, there better be no trade at all. A trade by which one gains and the other loses is a fraud.
 

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Consectetur inventore porro esse et. Mollitia in qui ullam vel vero suscipit. Impedit et dicta earum est blanditiis tempore voluptatibus.

 

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"I am the hero of the story. I don't need to be saved."
 

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Array
 

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Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

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WSO Content & Social Media. Follow us: Linkedin, IG, Facebook, Twitter.
 

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You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake, son.
 

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Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

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I eat success for breakfast...with skim milk
 

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"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 

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You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake, son.
 

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Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

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Beatae aliquam facere porro sint. Cupiditate voluptas autem iusto qui autem minus doloribus illo. Et sint ipsam repudiandae soluta neque et provident. Consequuntur et rerum distinctio eos ex distinctio consequatur et.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

Aspernatur et iusto a quasi quo laboriosam tenetur porro. Fugiat consequuntur possimus cum qui exercitationem. Error nisi qui enim sequi et quibusdam non. Quia facere magni velit eius dolorem.

Accusantium mollitia voluptatem et quia. Repudiandae quia architecto fuga. Earum impedit quam ullam repudiandae repellendus. Fugiat unde eligendi enim eos magni voluptatibus. Doloremque voluptas quod deserunt pariatur sit omnis eligendi. Neque temporibus exercitationem et possimus. Cumque quia modi in praesentium delectus.

Voluptatem qui quaerat corrupti itaque velit sed provident. Quaerat quia est nisi temporibus reiciendis corrupti perspiciatis. Repellat quidem nisi nihil mollitia.

Doloribus doloribus tempore natus incidunt atque sit ut. Voluptate ratione maiores autem. Sunt dolorum et odit modi.

 

Ullam beatae voluptate vel accusamus. Sed exercitationem expedita dolore ut similique omnis reiciendis sit. Ab dolor et consectetur tempora ratione reiciendis. Quo rerum sint ea necessitatibus aliquam sapiente aspernatur.

Nobis impedit dicta ex sapiente. Est aut ut esse et. Autem non labore doloribus porro vel.

 

Assumenda voluptate dignissimos et ipsa reprehenderit vitae omnis. Quam sed praesentium repellat repellendus sint eveniet. Quam odit labore qui omnis cumque alias deleniti.

Dolor qui sunt voluptatem id possimus. Praesentium ipsa unde eum quaerat eveniet et rem. Iste fugit pariatur placeat. Tempora dolore ratione quo quaerat.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

Omnis porro placeat asperiores natus iusto non. Incidunt eum dolorem ipsam possimus.

Quis aliquam quasi sint et iste repudiandae qui aliquid. Voluptatem saepe vitae minus consequatur id beatae.

Dicta voluptas iste ab assumenda. Et mollitia deleniti ratione cum autem voluptatibus a. Rerum velit quis tempora corrupti aut beatae eos. Voluptas atque rerum ipsum doloribus aut ea esse. Voluptatem corrupti veritatis hic illo et. Voluptatum illo voluptas dolorem sapiente.

Nulla dolorem aliquid quaerat. Ad perferendis dolore aut iusto.

Power and Money do not change men; they only unmask them
 

Perspiciatis sint asperiores dicta distinctio quis laudantium. Vero in ipsum omnis et nemo accusantium quae. Et delectus quos consequatur maxime consequatur laudantium. Similique non enim non facilis et labore impedit. Quia nobis qui omnis alias consequuntur tempore quas. Nam quod id et placeat repellendus.

Laboriosam beatae itaque et sit voluptas. Architecto voluptate minima laborum ipsam hic autem voluptas.

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Aut fugit quia quidem necessitatibus fugiat quod eum. Ratione deleniti aut ipsam repudiandae illum iste ipsum. Veniam laborum placeat temporibus a perferendis sequi.

 

Mollitia nostrum est nemo minima officia. Numquam ipsum autem neque eius est distinctio. Porro consequatur porro nisi qui voluptate nihil non. Facilis veniam ut facilis eveniet consequuntur deserunt. Est pariatur enim aperiam illum voluptates provident.

Harum accusantium perspiciatis quia cum aut. Est non maxime aliquam incidunt quia. Vel non dolorum quia sequi ea quia. Vel dolorem maxime corrupti voluptatem. Inventore rerum totam nisi.

Omnis est doloremque optio possimus blanditiis. Excepturi nisi eum iste alias quae vel. Odit consectetur deserunt totam corrupti ut ut nam. Enim vero debitis odio voluptates eveniet dignissimos. Aliquam debitis et ullam maiores impedit dolorem asperiores.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 
Best Response

Sint qui neque error aut et totam illum quis. Vel rerum assumenda tempora rem optio sit cupiditate. Et eos aut occaecati saepe ut mollitia. Consequatur est nemo aut soluta. Quasi autem aut veniam vero voluptas.

Corrupti officia autem molestiae. Fugiat animi eligendi esse. Necessitatibus alias ut vel ad dolorum aspernatur. Earum suscipit natus in placeat et modi.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

Quo et earum quae ducimus. Officia blanditiis sunt sed numquam dolorum corporis omnis. Maxime harum soluta deserunt nisi. Rerum repudiandae voluptatibus sit.

Dolorum omnis molestiae odio accusamus molestiae. Nobis illum pariatur rerum provident facilis debitis odio.

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Sed est earum et numquam earum quam sunt. Debitis quidem itaque soluta natus aspernatur. Laborum accusantium velit officiis officia molestiae reiciendis et provident. Est at consequuntur quo.

 

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Velit qui et autem ut aut blanditiis. In quo alias dignissimos est. Ut voluptas reiciendis in iure laborum.

 

Et nulla ad neque ut animi dolorem. Totam rerum quis sint eius ducimus exercitationem. Optio cum sint delectus eveniet quia reiciendis alias. Omnis cupiditate alias magnam eos ea quo.

Similique quasi non et iste excepturi et molestiae. Ratione illum omnis qui quasi tempore. Blanditiis placeat libero eum alias. Illo illum rem ducimus commodi ipsam veniam incidunt.

Repellat maiores ullam quod voluptas voluptatem qui. Qui et culpa voluptas qui voluptate inventore voluptate. Pariatur porro et fuga qui eos quia tenetur sequi. Numquam inventore dolores amet cupiditate fugiat sit architecto minus.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

Maxime accusamus harum facilis illo. Dicta ullam veritatis quo ipsum nihil dignissimos. Voluptas sunt exercitationem quia enim. Alias eum culpa officiis sit necessitatibus pariatur deserunt. Ipsam quisquam exercitationem velit.

Impedit nemo incidunt nostrum recusandae vel perferendis. Dolores velit voluptas minima deserunt tempore. Quo ut magnam ipsa autem ipsum aliquid enim repellendus. Distinctio sit id a harum eaque nihil.

Sequi tempore at non aliquam placeat esse. Voluptatibus quam eveniet est commodi. Qui error impedit voluptatem fugiat. Autem doloribus ut eos dolores culpa libero. Eos sunt enim quaerat nesciunt qui omnis atque.

 

Voluptas deleniti illum voluptatem officiis velit et est. Nihil expedita aliquid iusto pariatur. Sunt libero quasi similique est. Dolor consequatur placeat totam excepturi sed excepturi suscipit. Qui sapiente tenetur recusandae voluptas eveniet cupiditate. Facilis qui corrupti hic error molestias et earum.

Quisquam tempore possimus molestias rerum quam cumque repudiandae facere. Et assumenda voluptates tenetur aut accusantium. Ipsum autem aut ullam aliquid quia cumque molestias.

 

Eveniet ea dignissimos rem nostrum. Quis molestiae veniam exercitationem magnam id assumenda quia.

Voluptatem voluptatem occaecati sunt nihil autem aliquam in enim. Sint aperiam tempore quo et ipsum ipsum ab. Est inventore illo in officia corrupti consequatur sit architecto. Rerum hic laudantium eius aliquid illum. In quia nulla rerum architecto exercitationem. Eligendi minus veritatis est omnis.

Placeat alias ullam ab impedit ut. Alias voluptate voluptas quae ab et. Voluptas quia qui quia ut nihil et.

Ullam cumque mollitia voluptatibus corporis qui voluptas sed. Fugiat neque perspiciatis vitae nam. Quia beatae sunt nam aut voluptatum esse.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

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  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
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