Author

Ivy Almirol
August 15, 2026



Hey WSO Monkey,

Some career moves are about prestige. Others are about preparation, timing, and knowing which path actually gets you where you want to go. This week’s forum covers M7 MBA goals, military-to-finance transitions, multifamily’s next chapter, real estate career strategy, and how to show up ready for a hedge fund internship.

-Patrick

Top Discussions

  1. PE Bro Accepted to GSB/HBS/Wharton - Q&A - "A little bit of background. Target undergrad -> BB IBD -> UMM PE. Zero connections going into finance / did not come from a wealthy background. Why I am getting to MBA: 1) Prestige, 2) Network (social + professional), 3) Travel and create lasting memories, 4) Recruiting (PE / HF)..."

  2. Future of Multifamily - "This is good and bad for you as a multi-owner. The good part is, none of these people are buying houses, and they most likely aren't interested in hopping between apartment complexes every year, making them more likely to renew. The bad part is, if you try to be aggressive with rents, they will absolutely reject you. At a well-run property, occupancy should be high right now, but rent growth is probably low to nonexistent. No one is losing their shirts, but no one is seeing their promote from the last few years of deals either..."

  3. Polygraph by Polymarket - "News with skin in the game from the world’s largest prediction market. Each morning, get an email breaking down everything happening on Polymarket: the biggest shifts in odds, breaking news, new markets, whale moves, and much more. Join 1,428,136 readers who get their news on Polymarket."

Your Coffee Chats Are Going Well. So Why Aren't They Leading Anywhere?

You had a 25-minute call with an analyst. They were friendly. They answered your questions. They even said, “Keep in touch.”

Then nothing happened.

The problem isn't necessarily getting people on the phone. It's knowing how to turn a conversation into a relationship that survives after the Zoom call ends.

Consider the recruiting funnel from one WSO Academy student: 100+ professionals spoken to → 26 first-round interviews → 12 assessment centers → 4 internship offers, including Goldman Sachs, Rothschild, Lazard, and more.

WSO Academy helps students approach networking as a process: who to contact, what to say, how to follow up, and how to prepare when those relationships start creating interview opportunities.

A coffee chat isn't the win.

What happens after it is.

Top Discussions (contd.)

  1. Army Officer Seeking Advice on Transition to PE - “I’d suggest going the MBA route or getting into one of the veteran transition programs where you come in as an associate. The issue with going for an IB analyst role is that banks hire nearly all of their analysts from their intern program, so you’re at a structural disadvantage if you’re not part of that normal pipeline.”

  2. Long Game: Development vs Asset Management - "If I were making the career decision, I’d try to become development + AM fluent, rather than choosing one exclusively. Development teaches you how value is created; AM teaches you how to protect and compound it after delivery. Having both skill sets should be particularly valuable in a market where capital is increasingly selective and asset-level execution matters more..."

  3. Best Way to Prepare for a Fundamental L/S Internship? - “Honestly come in being very coachable and have some competency with modeling, ie. if someone asks you to look at X name you should have some sense of how to do a segment build or think through how to model costs or rev. There is usually 1-2 KPI's etc that stocks trade on so being able to identify that and work through that should be value add when you are pitching or chatting.”

New Podcasts Coming in Hot 🔥

  • How a Military Veteran Transitioned into Investment Banking and Finance

  • How This 'Non-Target' Math Major Broke Into Investment Banking (Starting in January!)

  • From Pre-Med in Vietnam to Wall Street: How This Non-Target Student Broke Into IB

Hot Jobs 💼

Senior Associate, Management Reporting (New York City, NY) - "The D. E. Shaw group seeks a senior associate with exceptional commercial and analytical skills to join its Management Reporting team within Financial Operations. The team is responsible for delivering high-impact analysis and executive-ready insights to the firm’s senior leadership, with a particular focus on compensation and management company economics..."

Management Reporting and Compensation Associate (New York City, NY) - "This role provides broad exposure to the firm and supports a range of core operational, reporting, and analytical processes..."

Financial Analysis & Reporting Associate (New York City, NY) - "The D. E. Shaw group seeks a highly organized, resourceful, and proactive individual to join its Financial Analysis & Reporting (FA&R) team within Financial Operations...."

Financial Analysis & Reporting Senior Manager (New York City, NY) - "The D. E. Shaw group seeks a leader with impressive commercial judgment, critical thinking, and communication skills to join its Financial Analysis & Reporting (FA&R) team within Financial Operations (FinOp)..."

Associate - "We are hiring a full-time Investment Associate in our Baltimore office to help us find, evaluate, and close our next investments in late-stage software and technology companies..."

Investment Banking Vice President - "This involves reviewing AI outputs for correctness, methodological rigour, and commercial relevance—then building evaluation criteria and model answers that reflect how things are actually done at top-tier banks…"

Private Equity Expert - "Mercor is recruiting U.S./UK/Canada/Europe/Australia-based Private Equity Experts for a research project with a leading foundational model AI lab."

Financial Modeling Expert - "In this highly visible role, you will deploy your deep expertise in financial modeling, valuation, and deal structuring to support major investment decisions across diverse sectors..."

WSO Mentor - "Are you an experienced professional with a background in investment banking, private equity, hedge funds, S&T, venture capital, asset management, equity research, quant finance, corporate dev, real estate finance, or top-tier consulting? Passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders? Wall Street Oasis (WSO) is expanding its Mentorship Program, and we're looking for outstanding professionals to join our mentor roster—an elite network supporting students and young professionals as they prepare for high-stakes careers. Whether you’re looking to give back, stay connected to rising talent, or sharpen your coaching skills, this role offers you the chance to make a meaningful impact, remotely and on your schedule..."

On Deck - Training 🎓

All in Eastern Standard Time

Stay Strong,
Patrick Curtis
CEO and Founder, WallStreetOasis.com

WSO Mobile App: iOS | Android

PS - We're also always looking to add resume reviewers and WSO Mentors to our team. Set your own pay (from $40/hr to up to $400/hr) to increase or decrease mentee flow. To submit an application, go here.

PPS - Think you have an interesting story? Want to share it with our podcast listeners? Hit reply and let me know!




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