The Wall Street Skinny

Former head of Cross-Asset Strategy at JP Morgan, John Normand, shares insights on investment strategy at superannuation funds, defined benefit/contribution plans, ethics of investing, macro environment views, and the Yen carry trade. Must-listen for understanding capital allocation in public/private markets.

Send us Fan MailToday's episode is a bit lighter. We get into what it means that "FTX found the money" as well as catch up about some super random stuff including the Tom Brady roast, NYC comedy clubs, Broadway, musical instruments, and our personal phobias. For a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HEREShop our Self Paced Courses:Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HEREWealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE. 

Former Investment Banker, Katy Song, Chief Financial Planner for Domain Money, gives advice on building wealth and managing finances. Topics include transitioning from investment banking to financial planning, tailored financial recommendations for clients, early financial planning for career growth, inter-generational wealth transfer, and the significance of real estate in asset allocation.

Send us Fan MailIn this week's edition of "The Skinny On", we get into an update on the Fed, Jen rants about bank balance sheet reqs, and Kristen gives you the skinny on the drama unfolding at Paramount amid merger talks with SkyDance and Apollo.For a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HEREShop our Self Paced Courses:Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HEREWealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE. 

Send us Fan MailCredit Strategy: how does it work, who are the players, and what are the career opportunities?  Today we are discussing the structure of the Credit Strategy desk at an Investment Bank with Dominique Toublan, head of US Credit Strategy at Barclays Capital.  We discuss how you approach the vast world of corporate bonds and distill trends as a strategist, how you reconcile investor sentiment with supply/demand dynamics, and what role are you serving within the ecosystem of Wall Street.  The US Credit market --- meaning, where corporate bonds trade after they've been issued --- is orders of magnitude larger than the US Equities market.  Credit spreads, which are a measure of the riskiness associated with the debt of an individual corporate borrower, are a critical barometer of economic strength/weakness and investor risk appetite.  Understanding these dynamics is essential not only to those who wish to pursue a career in credit strategy, trading, or sales, but also for those who wish to understand the Private Credit markets and the funding dynamics that influence deal making and investment on the Private Equity and Hedge Fund side of the industry.  For a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HEREShop our Self Paced Courses:Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HEREWealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE. 

Send us Fan MailIn today's episode we give you the Skinny on PCE (Personal consumption expenditures), we define "Risk Off", we chat about the news that Kim Kardashian has only raised $120mm of her $1-$2Bn target for her Skky Partners PE fund, talk Netflix and Meta earnings and finally share our take on the TikTok ban.For a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HEREShop our Self Paced Courses:Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HEREWealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE. 

Send us Fan MailSo many finance hopefuls dream of a career in Private Equity.  But what do you actually DO during your internship, starting out as a full-time Analyst, or as an Associate?  How do those roles differ at a mega fund vs. a smaller firm?  Are there advantages to starting out in Private Equity vs. doing a tour of duty at an Investment Bank or MBB consulting firm?  We sat down with Karina Petrunova, a current Private Equity Associate at Charles Thayne Capital, a lower middle market fund with a software & technology focus, to learn about her path to Private Equity.   She shares the specific steps she took to secure her first Wall Street internship during her sophomore year, her junior year internship, and ultimately her role at Vista Equity (a $100bn+ mega fund) out of undergrad.  Karina shares insight into the practices that made her a successful intern, analyst, and associate, as well as into her decision making process behind why she chose the firms she did.  If you are considering a career in Private Equity, or want to understand the journey that your friends and loved ones in the industry may be on, this episode is a MUST listen.  For a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HEREShop our Self Paced Courses:Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HEREWealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE. 

Send us Fan MailIn this week's episode we talk about the market's response to geopolitical risks, Jane Street's atypical transparency around Q1 earnings ahead of their bond issuance, and what to do if you get laid off from your Wall Street job.  For a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HEREShop our Self Paced Courses:Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HEREWealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE. 

Deborah Smith, CEO of a boutique real estate investment bank, shares her journey from a dairy farm to Wall Street CEO. Topics include CRE investing, starting investment banks, female mentorship, and balancing work-life. Discussions cover real estate banking, investment strategies, mentorship, market trends, and adapting real estate to changing demands.

Send us Fan MailIn our latest edition of our new weekly markets breakdown, we cover yesterday’s CPI release and its impact on the interest rates, credit, and equity markets.  With earning’s season kicking off, we explain how to frame your thinking about earnings releases as you start to think about how these moves in the market translate into corporate valuations and projections going forward.  We also share some feedback we’ve received on our “unwritten rules” for success on Wall Street and wax philosophical on the importance of cultivating resilience.For a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HEREShop our Self Paced Courses:Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HEREWealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.