Investment Banking Career Mentoring Program

Luis Romero

Introduction

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work in finance as an investment banker? And how it would feel to enjoy the many upside opportunities the career field brings? Many have tried to break into this highly competitive industry in pursuit of its hundred-thousand-dollar salaries. But it’s challenging, and most candidates get rejected from the industry. Here’s a list of common reasons why: You didn’t attend a target Ivy League school, don’t possess the right technical and soft skills, don’t have relevant work experience, are lacking a work visa, or maybe just started your journey late. And there are so many other potential reasons than just these.

Here’s your chance to break into the industry if you are a working professional or senior college student. Consider applying and committing to being part of our Investment Banking Career Mentorship Program. Passing on this opportunity means risking your future career.

Topics of Discussion

  • An Overview of the Program
  • The Experience Itself
  • Resulting Career Opportunities
  • The Cost of the Program

What is the Investment Banking Career Mentorship Program?

The mentorship program consists of 194 hours of learning in a structured format that takes approximately 15 weeks to complete. Candidates in our program experience what it’s really like to be an investment banker, equity research analyst, hedge fund analyst, and private equity analyst. 

The program is divided into four (4) phases that include:

1. Sell-Side Investment Banking Training

2. Buy-Side Investment Analyst Training

3. Relevant Internship Experience

4. Rebranding, Resume, and Application Strategies

Our investment banking certification program has successfully placed over 300 alumni at leading fintech companies and top firms like Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and many others.

What is the Program Experience Like?

The program takes place 100% online. As a student in the program, you’ll receive exclusive access to our comprehensive training platform, robust and vibrant professional community, and live weekly training and mentoring webinars.

We have developed a proven, results-driven formula for success after working with hundreds (700+) of college students/professionals and conducting more than 15,000 hours of mentoring sessions.

Phase 1: Sell-Side Investment Banking Training: During the first phase of the program, students go through a standard investment banking training program. They build the base of their knowledge and are exposed to accounting concepts, Microsoft Excel, financial modeling, corporate valuation, and transaction-based financial models.

Phase 2: Buy-Side Investment Analyst Training: During the second phase of the program, students complete an in-depth investment analysis training using case studies. They utilize the skills they’ve acquired in Phase 1 to generate models of real companies and scenarios. These case studies work to round out their knowledge and prepare them for a final, pre-internship project where they are expected to do everything on their own (without any video training lectures).

Phase 3: Relevant Internship Experience: During the third phase of the program, students receive relevant field experience and use the skills they’ve gained thus far to initiate research on new companies from start to finish. At this point, they can typically understand the company, its industry, its financials, and current drivers and trends, as well as formulate a solid investment thesis and price target. The final product is an investment presentation or equity research report.

Phase 4: Rebranding, Resume, and Application Strategies: During the last phase of the program, students are taught how to prepare for upcoming interviews, create a professionally formatted finance resume, and develop a highly effective job application strategy.

Mentoring: Students are also given the option to book one-on-one mentoring sessions with Career Mentors who assist them with each phase of the program experience.

Our Certified Investment Banking Career Program

Our certification program is designed to equip students with the necessary professional skills needed to become top performers on the job. Our goal is to help you become a first-rate professional who can successfully pursue and navigate a six-figure career, thereby dramatically increasing your future earnings potential. From day one on the job, you’ll be able to perform like the MVP you are.

What Kind of Career Opportunities Will This Open Up?

Completing our program certification will provide you with the opportunity to pursue multiple lucrative career paths in finance that each have six-figure starting salaries.

Here’s a breakdown of the career paths that will open up to you after you become certified. Note that starting salaries are dependent on the firm that hires you.

Career FieldJob TitlesAverage Starting Salary
Corporate DevelopmentBizOps or Financial AnalystBase: $83k | Bonus: Varies From Company to CompanyTotal Compensation: $83k – $110k
Investment BankingFirst-Year Investment Banking Analyst or AssociateBase: $85k | Bonus: $20k – $40kTotal Compensation: $105k – $125k+
Hedge FundsFirst-Year Investment Analyst or Investment AssociateBase: $100k – $150k | Bonus: Varies, Based on Fund PerformanceTotal Compensation: $100k – $600k: Varies, Based on Fund Performance
Private EquityPrivate Equity Analyst or AssociateBase: $100k – $150k | Bonus: Varies, Based on Fund PerformanceTotal Compensation: $100k – $200k: Varies, Based on Fund Performance
Real Estate Investment FundsReal Estate Investment Analyst or AssociateBase: $80k – $100k | Bonus: Varies, Based on Fund PerformanceTotal Compensation: $80k – $150k: Varies, Based on Fund Performance
Asset ManagementEquity Research Analyst or Investment AnalystBase: $85k | Bonus: $20k – $40kTotal Compensation: $105k – $125k
ConsultingBusiness AnalystBase: $85k | Bonus: $20k – 40kTotal Compensation: $105k – $125k

Considering opportunities in operations and/or the middle office may be advantageous as well. Then you’ll be able to network your way into front office positions after staffers within your target group witness your analyst skills.

Entrepreneurship/Startups: You’ll also be able to apply to opportunities at top VC-backed startups because of all your newly acquired professional skills.

How Much Does the Program Cost?

There is absolutely no upfront cost – it’s entirely free to learn! The Romero Mentoring Investment Banking Career Mentorship Program offers quality candidates a career opportunity with no upfront cost, making this a free-to-learn experience. Your success is our success.

We don’t get paid until you get paid.

Our success comes from preparing you for a competitive job. So this is the way it works: Only after receiving and signing a full-time job offer will you pay the program tuition. As part of the agreement, you don’t pay anything during your training. This way both our interests are aligned, and you can focus entirely on learning the necessary skills to achieve success in your career. It’s based on an honor agreement system.

Alumni Case Studies

Reading through the stories and testimonials of prior students will show you the real-life impact our program has had on their professional development. Below are just a few of our alumni success stories.

Joshua Prentice enrolled in our 2020 program as a freshman at the University of California, Los Angeles. After completing our program, he received a summer internship offer at Oaktree Capital Management. Joshua sums up his program experience in one striking sentence:

“I can say without a doubt that this internship helped propel my growth and accelerate my learning.”

Helen Chen enrolled in our 2020 program as a freshman at Duke University. During her program experience, she took part in multiple interviews with top-tier investment banking firms. The training and one-on-one mentoring she received at Romero prepared her for the intense interview process and she performed well. Helen received a finance internship offer from Rothschild & Co. as an investment banking summer intern. Here she talks favorably about her program experience at Romero Mentoring:

The one-on-one mentorship was probably my favorite part of the program. During the one-on-one sessions with Mr. Romero, I could ask questions about the training material, get feedback on my work, and get advice on my own finance journey.”

Adam Kaplan enrolled in our 2017 program as a sophomore at the University of Maryland, College Park. While completing his analyst training, Adam lined up multiple investment banking interviews. The training and mentoring he received from Romero Mentoring helped him secure a summer internship offer at Stifel Financial as an investment banking summer analyst. Upon graduation, Adam joined KPMG full-time as a valuation associate. He is now a full-time investment banking analyst at Berkshire Global Advisors. Adam says this about his program experience:

I attribute every internship and full-time job I have received to this program. Understanding what I do now, I know the university I went to does not teach students the information necessary to be successful in finance in the real world.  Without this program, I would not have the technical skills or professionalism that I’ve gained.

Montgomery Ngan enrolled in our 2017 program as a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, the Wharton School of Business. After completing the program, he received an internship offer at McKinsey & Company as a summer business analyst. He later joined McKinsey as a full-time business analyst after graduation. Montgomery sums up his program experience below:

The one-on-one mentorship with Mr. Romero has been invaluable to me as he has been a constant source of advice to me throughout college.”

Program Requirements

  • A desire to work in finance
  • A desire to improve your technical skills
  • A minimum GPA of 3.30
  • The completion of a financial modeling entry test

Note that both professionals with less than three years of experience and senior-level university students are welcome to apply to the program. All majors are accepted.

Program Benefits

  • Career opportunities with $100K+ salaries
  • Comprehensive technical skills training
  • $0 upfront cost (it’s free to learn!)
  • A deferred payment structure
  • A mutual interest in program participants achieving success
  • A robust and connected network boasting 300+ alumni
  • Knowledgeable and helpful career mentors
  • Rotational, hands-on experience
  • World-class training that will prepare you for real life

Our Story

Luis Romero, founder of Romero Mentoring, spent five years developing an analyst training program that he wishes he had when he was in college – especially one that gave him access to a complete training and finance internship experience that could advance his career. Since no opportunity like this existed to him at the time, Luis went through a stressful recruiting process like so many others have. He successfully landed a full-time job offer upon graduation and worked as an M&A analyst at Credit Suisse in NYC for two years. He then moved to the buy-side as a junior trader and analyst. After gaining experience there, he created his own fund, Romero Capital, and later become an instructor in financial modeling and valuation. After working with hundreds of professionals and analysts, Luis became committed to creating his own mentoring program because he understood the crucial need for a hands-on, personal experience in the competitive world of finance.

About the Author

Luis Romero

Luis has a passion for teaching and developing talent and has helped over 700 students and professionals start their careers in finance. He has over a decade of professional Wall Street experience in corporate finance, investing, and entrepreneurship. He began his career as an Investment Banker in the M&A group at Credit Suisse with $2 billion of deal experience. He later worked as an equity analyst and junior trader for Seven Points Capital. He also launched Romero Capital, a private long/short equity fund. He served as a senior instructor at the New York School of Finance and conducted financial modeling training programs for corporate and individual clients across the U.S., Canada, and Germany.

Mr. Romero also trains and mentors students through Romero Mentoring, an EdTech platform offering financial literacy training programs. Luis grew up in the Bronx and was born in the Dominican Republic. He holds a B.B.A. in Finance with a minor in Philosophy from the City University of New York, Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business.