Time Saving Products/Services Actually Worth the Money?

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some time-saving products and services that analysts have found to be worth the investment:

1. Productivity Tools:

   • BamSEC: A tool for accessing public company financials and filings. It can save time when pulling 10-Ks or other relevant documents.
   • Slide Templates: Pre-saved templates for common deliverables like company profiles, diligence decks, and memos. These can significantly reduce the time spent creating slides from scratch.

2. Tech Upgrades:

   • Computer Upgrades: Requesting a high-performance computer (e.g., I7 quad-core with 16GB+ RAM) can save time waiting for data tables or large files to load.
   • Pinned Deal Files: Pinning frequently used deal files in Windows Explorer for quick access.

3. Excel Shortcuts and Formatting:

   • Macros and Conditional Formatting: Automating repetitive tasks in Excel with recorded macros or using conditional formatting for checks can save hours.
   • Consistent Formatting: Keeping Excel sheets formatted uniformly (e.g., same column/row alignment) makes referencing and updating easier.

4. Meal and Lifestyle Services:

   • Meal Delivery Services: Subscribing to meal delivery services can save time on cooking and grocery shopping.
   • Laundry Services: Outsourcing laundry can free up hours during the week.

5. Research and Data Access:

   • Shared Research Logins: Asking colleagues for access to research tools or databases can streamline the process of gathering information.
   • Logointern.com: A resource for quickly finding company logos for presentations.

6. Automation and Organization:

   • Browser Saved Logins: Saving all logins in your browser for automatic access to online applications.
   • Outlook To-Do Pane: Using Outlook to manage tasks and deadlines, reducing mental load.

7. Protected Time:

   • While not a product, implementing "protected hours" (e.g., 7-8 PM for personal time) can help maintain work-life balance and improve efficiency.

These tools and services are designed to reduce friction in daily tasks, allowing analysts to focus on high-priority work and reclaim some personal time.

Sources: What I Wish Every First Year Analyst Knew, How can we do better?, How can we do better?, How Do You Deal With the BB Sweatshop Hours?, Saving Time Bitches (Investment Banking & Private Equity)