Guide to an Investment Banker Career Path (With Benefits)

Updated December 21, 2022

The financial industry has a range of opportunities for individuals interested in investments and securities. If you're seeking a career that pays well, offers many opportunities, and allows for advancement, you might consider the role of an investment banker. Understanding the investment banker career path and what the job entails can help you determine if this is a suitable occupation for you. In this article, we define the role of an investment banker, describe the career path, list the progression of roles, and explore the pros and cons of this occupation.

What is an investment banker?

Investment bankers are financial advisors who aim to help companies and organizations raise capital by issuing stock or borrowing money. They work with public companies and investors to advise on selling and buying securities, such as stocks and bonds. Investment bankers may organize a company's structure for the sale of securities to raise capital to aid in a company's expansion or business merger. These professionals are skilled at performing research to understand market trends, evaluate a company's financial situation, and perform financial modelling to project the profitability of investments.

What is the investment banker career path?

Exploring the investment banker career path can help you plan your education and career progression. Investment bankers often start in entry-level positions after earning a bachelor's degree in finance, economics, business administration, or a related field. You may complete an internship at an investment bank as part of your degree program, or you might pursue an internship after graduation. After starting a career as an analyst, you can explore further professional development or training programs to develop your knowledge of financial analysis, modelling, accounting, risk analysis, and market structures.

After a few years in the analyst role, you may receive a promotion to an associate position. At this stage, many professionals pursue a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) to develop their skills and knowledge. Obtaining higher education can help you progress within your career or move into a more specialized area of finance. Employers often categorize associates into first-year, second-year, or third-year associates, with third-year associates often receiving special attention to transition them into a vice president role. From there, some professionals may move into a senior vice president role and even fewer into a managing director position.

Career progression within investment banking

While some organizational structures differ, here are the titles you may explore when progressing through an investment banking career:

Intern

Investment bankers may begin their careers as an intern at an investment bank to gain experience, develop their skills, and establish their professional network. Internships are often required for graduation from a bachelor's degree program, but some recent graduates seek them to build their network and explore employment opportunities. Depending on the size of the bank in which you work, you may explore various departments throughout the organization to gain comprehensive knowledge of different aspects of the career. This can help you decide how you want to direct your career or if you wish to switch career paths.

Analyst

Investment banking analysts work with large corporations and government organizations to source funding by reviewing investment transactions and advising on investment strategies. In this role, you may evaluate your client or employer's needs, use financial modelling to evaluate investment opportunities, and identify investments to help clients meet their financial goals. Analysts often serve as an intermediary between investors and corporations looking for capital and assist bank representatives with creating new financial offerings. You can use your financial modelling skills to create reports on portfolios, evaluate investment opportunities, and make recommendations on investing in organizations or markets.

Associate

As an investment banking professional moves into an associate role, they may have similar job duties to an analyst but with more responsibility and leadership opportunities. At this stage in your career, you may specialize in a specific area of investment banking or finance as you develop your skills and identify your interests. This role requires strong analytical skills since associates prepare and sell investment products to investors and provide advice on financial planning and investment opportunities. As mid-range professionals, they work closely with both entry-level analysts and executive-level managers.

As an associate, you may also be responsible for conducting risk assessments, researching and preparing reports for acquisitions and mergers, and determining the valuation of companies for investment purposes. You may work directly with clients to build relationships and make investment recommendations and develop marketing materials about products and services for client recruitment. Associates work with clients to offer financial management or investment advice and execute transactions on their client's behalf.

Vice president

Investment baking vice presidents are junior executives within an investment bank who focus on managing client relationships, pitching prospective clients, and managing investment deals. In this role, you may manage a team of associates and analysts to prepare pitches and evaluate investment opportunities. The role of a vice president or senior vice president shifts from the analytical evaluation of deals toward client management and business development. Many professionals progress to this professional level and spend the remainder of their careers in this role, continually prospecting for new business and building their client roster.

Managing director

Managing directors are top-level executives in investment banking responsible for ensuring the company's profitability. At this level, you rarely engage with investment deals, focusing more on managing the entire department of investment bankers. Managing directors are responsible for overseeing the progress of deals, the happiness of clients, and the health of the market. You can use your experience, skills, and leadership abilities to maintain bank revenues by developing relationships with new clients and maintaining those with existing ones. Your vast knowledge of the political and economic environment can help increase revenues and build the business.

Benefits of being an investment banker

Here are some advantages of pursuing a career as an investment banker:

High earning potential: Working in the financial industry can be a lucrative career choice, with investment banking an appealing career opportunity for driven individuals interested in earning a high salary.

Valuable benefits packages: Along with higher-than-average compensation, there's an opportunity to earn generous benefits packages, including bonus opportunities or stock options.

Easily transferable skills: Investment banking is a good career foundation. It allows you to develop skills that are easily transferable to other areas of the financial or business sectors.

Significant growth opportunities: In this role, you can pursue continued development opportunities to progress in your career and develop your understanding of evolving markets.

Driven colleagues: As investment bankers are highly motivated and competitive individuals, you can work alongside driven colleagues and build a strong business network in this sector.
Exciting career: The field of investment banking is fast-paced and constantly evolving, which makes this an exciting career option.

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Considerations for an investment banking career

If you're interested in investment banking, here are some elements of the career you might consider when deciding if this is the right path for you:

Long hours: Investment bankers often work long hours beyond the traditional 40-hour work week. While this contributes to the high earning potential, consider the substantial time commitment when investigating this career choice.

Challenging work-life balance: Many employers expect their investment banking employees to be available to answer calls or e-mails outside typical working hours. This increased need for availability can result in a higher chance of burnout due to challenges in creating a work-life balance.

Highly repetitive work: Many tasks, such as researching companies, reviewing financial data, and creating reports, can be highly repetitive. If you prefer to work in a more dynamic setting instead of in an office space, you may choose to explore other roles within the financial sector.

Stressful working environment: Investment bankers work in high-pressure situations with competing deadlines and a demanding workload. Learning how to manage your stress levels to thrive in such an environment can help you progress in an investment banking career.

Competitive industry: Investment banking is a highly competitive industry, with many investment bankers feeling increased pressure to perform at high levels. If you're driven by competition and thrive when working under pressure, this may be a good career choice for you.

Potential for low job satisfaction: As this is often a mentally and emotionally demanding job, there is a potential for low job satisfaction amongst investment bankers, specifically at lower levels. The pressure and heavy workloads often make these professionals transition out of their roles and into slower-paced areas of finance.