Figuring Out If Investment Banking Is the Path for You

Episode 56 | October 19, 2026

For many college students, investment banking can seem like the obvious path into finance. But what if you are not sure it’s actually right for you?

In Episode 56 of the Coffee Chat podcast, Ben sits down with Kennedy, a University of Tennessee sophomore majoring in finance, to explore that question. Kennedy is already well ahead of many students her age: she is involved with the Tennessee Capital Markets Society, has earned both Level I and Level II Adventis certifications, and has completed an M&A sell-side pitch competition. Yet she is still figuring out whether investment banking, FP&A, or wealth management is the best fit.

For Kennedy, that uncertainty is intentional. “I just tried my best to go into it with that learner attitude,” she explains. Rather than approaching networking conversations solely as a way to secure an internship, she is using them to understand what different careers actually look like.

That approach became especially useful after Kennedy’s experience building financial models for a student competition. She discovered that she enjoys building three-statement models and working in Excel, but is less interested in valuation. “It definitely made me realize more of what I like and don't like,” she says.

Ben encourages students who are uncertain about investment banking to use internships as an opportunity to experiment. A junior-year banking internship does not have to mean committing to investment banking for life. Instead, it can provide valuable experience and help students make a more informed decision about what comes next.

The conversation also addresses an important consideration: lifestyle. Kennedy values having time for family and personal well-being, while investment banking can involve 70- to 100-hour workweeks. Ben emphasizes that there is no universally correct career choice. The goal is to find the path that aligns with your skills, interests, and long-term priorities.

As Kennedy puts it, the process is about “figuring it all out slowly, one step at a time.”

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