Looking for Career Path Advice

I am a 3rd year undergrad studying finance. I have a rough idea of the different careers in financial services. I have some thoughts on possible paths but just not sure which ones might be best for my personality, strengths, and weaknesses. I'm tired of reading job descriptions and completing all of the crap surveys online. I want to hear advice from those actually practicing in these fields based on d2d experience. Any suggestions of a suitable path based on your knowledge and experience would be greatly appreciated. Here are a few points about myself:

- I am a strong communicator; I am very good at managing relationships and enjoy giving presentations
- Enjoy negotiating
- Strong writing skills
- I enjoy working with others but many times I feel like I need to control and lead
- I love entrepreneurship; I have started several companies with one being quite successful, I manage a mentorship/incubator program at my school that provides micro-loans to HS students and at risk youth (my favourite hobby)
- I will be starting a part time internship at an IB bank working on a PE project over the summer
- I will bust my ass for money. At my age I have no problem working long hours (no real family obligations)
- >5 hours of financial modeling a day would drive me insane
- I am the President of my Uni's investment club and do enjoy investing but do not think I could manage wealth for a living. Strong proficiency with BB too.

Thanks for any advice. I really do appreciate it!

2 Comments
 
Best Response

Until that last bullet, I would say PWM. Between "I will bust my ass for money," "I am a strong communicator," and "enjoy negotiating" PWM is right up your alley.

Most of what you would be doing in other areas of finance would be very modeling/excel intense, which you wrote is a turn-off for you (even PWM will require a share of it too). Any reason why you aren't interested in that area?

Maybe consider Asset Management (institutions as opposed to individuals), such as Cambridge Associates?

 

Expedita vel et nemo perferendis. Excepturi eum est dolorem animi accusamus dolores. Non omnis eum dolore ratione. Quam fugit iste laboriosam vero id quis. Fugit in aut quo cupiditate cumque non. Qui et laboriosam provident provident.

Omnis nisi voluptatem inventore dolores sed ad. Excepturi voluptatem odio tenetur minus occaecati est molestias.

Rem excepturi impedit et ad voluptatem qui. Ullam vitae quis delectus rem animi. Quia tempore ducimus odit non. Ullam et explicabo odio iusto. Mollitia temporibus error dolores beatae sed. Doloribus ipsum aliquid ut qui nisi voluptas accusamus delectus.

Perspiciatis eligendi sit veniam quo quas impedit dolorum. In rerum in assumenda est veritatis animi mollitia.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”