The Wall Street Skinny

Send us Fan MailHow do you level up in your career --- or even just not get fired when sh*t hits the fan?!?  We sit down with CEO and career coach Helen Dayen to understand the psychology, mindset, skills, and creativity required to advance in the financial services industry and beyond.  Helen also shares her own  stories from the cutthroat environment on the trading floor, "The Devil Wears Prada of Finance" so to speak, how she was able to pivot and make her self invaluable when she knew she was on the chopping block, and how she forged an entrepreneurial path for personal & professional fulfillment. Helen Dayen is CEO and coach at The Dayen Group, where she has over 15 years of experience in sales, relationship management, business development and executive coaching.  She works with professionals in high stress/high demand industries such as finance, technology, and law. To learn more about The Dayen Group, you can find their website here: https://www.dayengroup.com/Follow The Dayen Group on Instagram @dayengroupFor 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 MailAnswering questions we've received from listeners via Instagram, TikTok and email!  This week's topics include: 1. Can you explain the different indices?  SPX, FTSE, DAX, NASDAQ, Barclays AGG…as an investor, why would you look at indices?  What do they mean/represent, and why do we have them?2. I’m building my first model, and trying to figure out how to connect the Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement and Balance Sheet.  Is there a particular order these should go in??  3. Two similar questions: a) is there any mobility into hedge funds or banks if you’re 10+ years into a career in tech/startups?  And b)  What about any insights on how JD grads can break into the financial services industry?4. Does and incremental increase in debt increase or lower the WACC?5. Why wouldn’t EVERYONE use interest rate swaps to hedge risk?  To have your question featured on our next Q&A episode, please email us at questions@wallstreetskinny.com or follow us on Instagram and send us a DM!Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyFor 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 MailToday we are joined by Steve Haggerty, the former Head of Research in both New York and Hong Kong at Bank of America Merrill Lynch before making the move to the Buy-Side, to answer all your questions about Equity Research including: What is Equity Research? What does a day in the life look like? What is the difference between Buy-Side and Sell-Side Research? How does the skill set differ between Buy-Side and Sell-Side Research? What exit opportunities are there out of Sell-Side Research? and much much more. Steve Haggerty was Head of Research in both New York and Hong Kong  at Bank of America Merrill Lynch before making the move to the Buy-Side, and becoming Head of Research at Moon Capital. Prior to that he worked at General Motors and Schroders Securitues in London before joining Merrill Lynch as an equity analyst in New York and then becoming a research manager.He retired  in 2021 and is now an advisor at Columbia Business School as well as the founder of Interior Lines Research where he helps Sell-Side Researchers learn to be more influential with Buyside clients. He also is working in venture capital in the agtech space and is a hobby farmer in the Hudson Valley.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 MailThe global financial markets and the news are inextricably linked. News stories move the financial markets, and the financial markets make the news. Today we sit down with Mosheh Oinounou of Mo News, an Emmy-award winning  journalist who has worked at Bloomberg, CBS, and FOX News in the past.  Mosheh has now created his own news service primarily distributed across social media platforms, where he is a trusted source for hundreds of thousands of followers. We discuss how Mosheh distills critical intel from the vast array of global news, explore the complexities of bias and mistrust in the news media, and debate the role of journalism in a post-AI environment.   We swap stories from opposite sides of the newswire during major market-moving events like the financial collapse of 2008 and Fukushima in 2011.  And we learn how Mosheh is preparing for his next exciting role as a father!You can watch Mosheh's TedEx talk referenced at the link below, can subscribe to his news letter or become a Mo News premium subscriber on his website or follow him for. your daily dose of news on Instagram or TikTok.Mosheh TedEx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBZdjaIR4w8Mo News Website: https://www.mo.news/Follow Mosheh on TikTok and Instagram at @moshehFollow us on Instagram and Tik Tok at @thewallstreetskinnyFor 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 MailWe explore the hot topics of private equity, venture capital, mergers & acquisitions, hostile LBOs, and MORE through the lens of one of our favorite shows: Succession.  Think "dual class stock shares" sound boring?  Think again!  We break down the key corporate finance plot points (note:  spoilers included but minimized, especially regarding the season 1 finale) driving the drama inside one of the all-time greatest shows.  For additional insight, check out this great article from the FT:  https://www.ft.com/content/a7ce31e0-06f0-4986-9eb9-f4322a40ffc3For 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 MailCongrats on landing your summer internship....Now what??  We walk through every aspect of the internship experience --- from getting coffee to getting the coveted full time offer.  We talk about housing, training, desk assignments, the importance of networking, etiquette, and typical projects across various divisions.  We discuss how to prove your worth, how to land a full time offer, and how to deal if you DON'T get that dream offer.  Sharing personal stories of being little grownups in the big city and all we learned along the way.  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 episode, we explore the world of hedge funds with Paul Podolsky, who spent 16 years at Bridgewater (the world's largest hedge fund) before launching a writing, publishing, and podcasting career.  We ask: how did hedge funds evolve, and how are they different from traditional asset managers?  What are the different types of hedge funds?  How do they raise and deploy capital?  What are the entry and exit opportunities?  And...what does it truly mean to be a "pain sponge?"Paul Podolsky spent 20+ years on Wall Street with most of that time at Bridgewater Associates, the biggest hedge fund in the world. Prior to that he worked.as a journalist in 1990s Russia, writing for Novaya Gazeta, The Moscow Times, and Hearst. He graduated from Brown University, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts in association with Harvard), and the Maurice Thorez School of Foreign Languages. He currently has a podcast of his own called 'Things I Didn't Learn in High School', is the author of "Raising a Thief" and "Master Minion" and has a Substack where he writes "Practical, jargon-free description of what is going on in international affairs and financial markets that ties directly to my asset allocation, with full transparency into my wins and losses."You can follow him at the links below.Follow Paul Podolsky:Twitter @paul_podolskyInstagram @paulpodolskywww.paulpodolsky.comFor 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 MailAnswering questions we've received from listeners via email and Instagram!  This week's topics include: how to choose the right valuation method?  How to prepare for an investment banking interview?  What is the difference between IRR, CAGR, and ROI?  ...and more!!  This is our first of many future Q&A episodes to come.  To have your question featured on our next Q&A episode, please email us at questions@wallstreetskinny.com or send us a direct message on Instagram.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 MailWe share our unfiltered personal stories from the front lines of the 2008 financial crisis.  Maybe you've read the headlines: banks going under (SVB, First Republic), UBS acquiring Credit Suisse, offers being rescinded, and worry about what will happen if you’re starting your career during a financial crisis.  They say past is prologue so  we share what it was like being on the trading floor of Lehman Brothers when it collapsed, or working firsthand on the financial products that caused a global economic meltdown.   We also reflect on lessons learned for navigating your career path during times of uncertainty.  Our most raw, personal episode yet!  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 MailIt's been a pretty wild spring in 2023.  Since March of this year, we've seen Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapse, Signature Bank shut down, Credit Suisse get acquired by UBS, and --- most recently --- First Republic get acquired by JPMorgan. But the turmoil in the banking sector is likely not over just yet. In this episode, we explore the economic circumstances driving current events and explain the underlying mechanics behind the headlines.  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.