Nerdiest / most “intellectual” Investment Banking groups

I know it is difficult to qualify, and you can find different people in all groups, but was curious to hear what people think.

Do any groups within any of the BBs / EBs stand out in particular?

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Restructuring groups for sure, maybe FIG.

Not a traditional group but the risk solutions/corporate derivatives groups some banks have are pretty nerdy too.

Was obsessed with finance, now do product in tech
 

Ex rates derivs guy; they're really not all that nerdy. I mean they're more nerdy than the fx frat bros, and had to think a bit more than our DCM counterparts, but they're certainly not a very sharp bunch.

 

Have also heard about RX, but was surprised to hear FIG. Why do y’all think FIG are intellectual, and which FIG groups (in which banks) more specifically? @sevroll”

 

FIG requires deep knowledge of financial institutions financials which are completely different to your standard widget/EBITDA-driven companies. Ie have to have an understanding of loss reserves, GLA's etc. For this reason their models are INCREDIBLY different to your standard company's

 

Some of the more complex capital markets groups seem to be pretty intellectual. The Structured Finance group at my bank seems to recruit cerebral type A people who have left for credit funds and other more “nerdy” institutions.

 

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