What I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Career in Finance
Episode 28 | September 29, 2025
For many undergraduates, the road to Wall Street seems paved with one path: investment banking. In Episode 28 of The Coffee Chat Podcast, Adventis host Ben welcomed Brian, a Miami of Ohio graduate, who discovered that a less traditional path, private credit, offered unique advantages. With years of experience across Chicago, London, and Paris, plus a year-long solo trip around the globe, Brian reflected on what he wishes he had known before beginning his career in finance.
Discovering Private Credit Through Networking
Like many students, Brian initially set his sights on investment banking. “It was not really on my radar when I was recruiting out of undergrad,” he admitted. But through networking, he connected with professionals at PIM Private Capital who introduced him to the buy-side world of private credit.
The appeal? “I got to go straight to the buy side and think like an investor from the beginning,” Brian explained. Rather than pitching deals as an analyst, he could focus on assessing true value, managing portfolios, and stress-testing downside risks—skills that resonated with his analytical mindset.
Building Skills with the Adventis Financial Modeling Certification® Program
One pivotal moment came during his first semester at Miami, when Brian enrolled in the Adventis Financial Modeling Certification® Program. “I didn’t know what it was, but it sounded relevant,” he recalled. After excelling in the coursework, a student instructor suggested that his modeling aptitude would serve him well in investment banking. That advice ultimately led him down the path of high finance.
Brian emphasized that the FMC® Program gave him a competitive edge: “It really helps you get a complete understanding of how the three-statement operating model works, how an LBO works, how a DCF works… I would just build the model over and over until it was second nature.” This depth of knowledge allowed him to stand out in interviews and, later, on the desk. Within six months, he was trusted with responsibilities typically reserved for more senior analysts.
Lessons Learned on the Desk
Working in private credit demanded more than technical proficiency. Brian found that success came from combining attention to detail with a defensive, risk-focused mindset. Instead of projecting rapid growth, he focused on whether businesses generated consistent cash flows and how they might weather downturns.
Exposure to a high volume of deals accelerated his learning. “In an average year, I probably closed 6 to 12 deals,” Brian shared, noting that private credit analysts see far more deal flow than their peers in sell-side roles.
A Global Perspective
His performance opened doors abroad. After two years in Chicago, Brian relocated to London and later Paris, immersing himself in global finance hubs. The experience broadened his perspective on markets, clients, and the pace of international deal-making.
Yet Brian also took an unconventional step—leaving finance temporarily to travel the world for a year. He described it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reset, build perspective, and sharpen transferable skills like decision-making and adaptability.
Advice for Students Entering Finance
Looking back, Brian offered two central pieces of advice:
Work Hard and Show It: “If you’re persistent and you’re networking and you’re doing all the right things, things can fall into place. A lot of people want to hire people who work hard.”
Stay Flexible: Don’t assume there’s only one right path. While investment banking may be popular, alternative routes, such as private credit, may be a better fit depending on your interests and strengths.
Ben summarized it well: don’t let an echo chamber of peers dictate your future. Instead, pressure-test your own goals and remain open to less traditional opportunities.
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