What makes investment banking the career of choice for top Ivy League grads? Investment bankers make capitalism work. They conduct valuations of company worth for clients looking at a friendly merger. Investment bankers structure acquisitions, deciding whether shareholders will receive an all cash buyout or equity in the parent entity – and how much they will receive. Investment bankers come to the aid of companies seeking to avoid a hostile takeover, helping them search for more welcome suitors. They help privately held or start-up companies with IPOs, evaluating market conditions that may affect when the initial stock offering should occur and how much the asking price should be.

Investment banking firms may even put up the money themselves, assuming the risk and financial blow if the shares sell for less than what the firm paid as well as the reward and financial upside if the firm can sell the shares for over the purchase price. Just as top, luxury real estate brokers develop and call upon connections to find qualified buyers for high priced properties and to obtain leads in finding prospective clients looking to sell, investment bankers also rely upon connections, know-how, and their own reputation to bring together buyers and sellers in order to broker deals. Investment bankers also interface with attorneys to follow complex federal regulations governing the buying and selling of securities.

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