Florida/Latin America Investment Banking

Hello, lads, really need some help with this one. 

I was previously on the law school path. Found out about investment banking about a year ago, started researching (getting better at Excel, even learning modelling) in greater detail a few months ago. Now, I don't think I have much of a chance at New York BB because I'm at a non-target with an irrelevant degree. But do I have a chance at anything in Florida or Latin America? I think the biggest player in Florida is Raymond James, but South Florida is even better because I'd save on rent. I've lived in Latin America and speak Spanish; my mum was born there and has some local connections, although none in the industry. 

I'm also open to cities like Chicago or anywhere where the comp isn't too off. My ultimate goal is to work in Western Europe; I have two European passports (EU + UK), so visas aren't a worry. 

My profile:

  • University of Florida, second semester junior

  • Native Spanish, Italian and (British) English speaker; good French

  • Political science (can/will add economics major if helpful)

  • 3.91 GPA

  • No finance experience, aside from working at a pension manager

If I do have a chance, how's the comp in, say, Mexico City? Is the experience 'discounted' when you try to move back to the US/Europe? Would learning Portuguese help? 

 

A lot of Latin American IB work is done in the US and you're studying at an American uni, so you should stay in the US. Comp is better too.

My advice would be to find your value proposition and leverage it in your networking strategy. For instance, if you want to break into Tech IBD, your "South American" profile and knowledge of the language wouldn't give you an edge, but if you were interested in Infrastructure you could easily craft a strong storytelling with Latin America + Infra/project finance. You could even leverage your political science background, because infrastructure deals are heavily impacted by government policies and regulations and Latin America is a politically fragmented area.

Once you have crafted your story, the only way is to network hard. Make a list of all boutiques, shops and other banks with which you can leverage your profile. Look up old WSO threads, there are some US banks specialized in Latin American deals. Then just stalk employees on Linkedin and cold-email them. The idea would be to get an internship for next summer to gain relevant experience, then get a full-time offer at this firm or another once you graduate and keep networking to lateral to a big NYC bank after 1 to 2 years.

 

Thanks. 

It's funny that you mention tech; tech (think SaaS) sales is the only area where I have US-based connections who've offered to get me in. Comp isn't bad and improves quickly, but it tends to be ~$70k for first-years. Do you think it would be feasible to do that for three years and then do an MBA to break in as an associate? I'd much prefer banking, but I'm working with several hindrances: being at a non-target and having no internships or connections whilst nearing graduation. The MBA would also get me that prestigious name on my CV, which may or may not be important. 

Also, I've taken about 1/3 of the courses in the economics major. Taking up a double major wouldn't really delay graduation, but it would possibly lower my GPA, as I'd have to take maths courses. It's too late to enter UF's business school for finance, so economics is the best I can do. Do you recommend it? I'm a second semester junior at 19 - plenty of AP/IB credit, in addition to a full scholarship, which is why I chose UF over my other options. 

As for the Latin America + infra/project finance, thanks for the idea, but how would I get my break in this without knowing anything about it? It seems like the plan would be:

find a shop that does infra/project finance globally -> tastefully spam people who work there -> tell them I'm a US-based student/grad, speak Spanish natively -> ??? -> profit

 

This really doesn’t seem a bad option for you as an international who’s missed recruiting. I’d take the job and save up for future MBA programs, who knows whether your interest will change. A lot of internationals would be happy to be in your situation.

 

Yeah, I know Comp is basically NY-level, too. It's honestly quite surprising that most prefer non-BB New York banking to Tampa - same pay, cheaper rent, no state tax. 

I don't think I can get my hopes up for Raymond James, chiefly because I don't have enough time to complete the Warrington finance programme. 

 

Fellow UF junior year here. You've missed RJ recruitment for summer 2021 already. They recruited back in like September/October. In general, you've already missed out on recruitment for summer 2021 with basically every bank that recruits at UF for IB and practically all large banks outside of the UF recruitment scene as well. You might have a shot for this upcoming summer if you hustle hardcore for a role at a small shop somewhere in Florida. Idk anything about LatAm recruitment. Otherwise, coming from CLAS, frankly, your best option is to extend graduation and do either MIB or MSM so you can get another summer under your belt, and then since you're Hispanic, apply for SEO and MLT and you could probably get something for SA22. I know quite a few CLAS kids who did that and SEO/MLT has hooked them up with internships. 

 

Thanks. I think I'll do ~12 credits next semester, meaning I'd technically remain a junior. I have five more classes to take for my major, but the rest would be free, so I was thinking about doing econ. Good plan or worthless? 

Do you know where to get info on a concurrent bachelor + MSM/MIB as a non-Warrington student? Heaven knows I'll end up donating, but I want to get out of Gainesville. It's why I'm thinking about tech sales + MBA, breaking in as an associate. 

 
Most Helpful

Banks are only going to care about your graduation date. If I were you, instead of graduating spring 2022, extend one semester to fall 2022 so that you can spend summer 2022 interning somewhere. I hate Gainesville too, but with your GPA + SEO & MLT, you could 100% get something for summer 2022 as long as you're not socially incompetent and don't completely screw up in interviews, and you won't have to wait like five to six years to do it. Waiting that long is kinda dumb imo when all you have to do is extend one semester and use SEO/MLT to get something. Those programs are gold mines if you're a motivated person.

Doing an econ double major could be helpful. One of my friends did another CLAS major + econ, extended graduation to the fall by doing MIB, and got an offer at a good bank through SEO, so it definitely works. The Warrington website should have decent info about the combined-degree programs, and they tend to host info sessions. Heavener advisors are pretty helpful too if you reach out imo. You're going to have to take the GMAT, but all the Warrington combined-degree programs accept pretty trash scores (except MSF, which is unattainable for you tbh since you're already a junior). 

Also, I'd try to hop on the SEO/MLT train very quickly because sophomore diversity events are already happening, and you're already pretty late to the game in applying to them. I know UF sophomores/class of 23'ers who have already locked down offers at Wells for this upcoming summer. Diversity recruitment for SA22 will be in full swing by April/May. RBC gave out SA21 diversity offers in March this past year, and they're the best bank that recruits on-campus.

 

The trouble with the UF Warrington MSF is that it's a combined degree for undergrads. They wouldn't even consider my application. As far as I know, my best bet at UF is to do the MIB or MSM, as was suggested above. I've been doing some research, and the MIB/MSM would be quite cheap - 15k at worst, potentially free depending on how much scholarship money I've got left. I guess the other option would be a finance master's from another, more prestigious university. Don't know if that would be worth the cost. 

 

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