There are many investment banking texts out there that claim that financial modeling and valuation is the core work of the investment banker. This is simply not the truth. The core work of the investment banker is origination, mandate/target matching, and deal structuring. It should follow that a text/course on investment banking should be based upon the same. It is the good fortune that the reader has encountered such a book/course. Investment Banking: M&A Origination, Execution, Financial Modeling & Valuation explains origination, mandate/target matching, and deal structuring (i.e. how investment bankers make their money). 
 
First, you are going to want to clarify whether you would like to work on the sell side for a few years or pursue a career in investment banking. The skills that you will need to get started in investment banking are different than those that you will need to have a long and successful career in investment banking. The role in investment banking transforms from one that is research, financial modeling & valuation based into one focused on origination and facilitating the M&A process. M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) is the core product of investment banking, and the other products, advisory & capital-raising, simply support this. We founded Investment Banking University (www.InvestmentBankingU.com) to answer that very question and prepare students for both bulge bracket and middle market investment banking career opportunities. The following is a short free workshop presentation that we give to our prospective students that will help to answer your question. 
 
As you can see, it helps to understand the bigger picture (perpetuity science) when trying to comprehend what will make for a successful career in investment banking and the investment banker’s role. 
 
M&A is the core product for any investment bank and is thus the focus of this text. We however, will begin with an overview of the foundations of finance. 
 
Finally, the idea that you need to spend three years of your life as an analyst doing 80+ hour workweeks building financial models to become an investment banker is a faulty paradigm. The real value add of an investment banker is not financial modeling & valuation, but rather origination, mandate/target matching, and deal structuring. You don’t need Goldman Sachs’ permission to be an investment banker just like you don’t need McKinsey’s permission to be a consultant.

Investment Banking - How To Become An Investment Banker PDF

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