by meridith dennes | Jan 14, 2026 | Interviewing, News
Bank earnings show a Q4 timing shift, not a confidence problem JPMorgan’s 5% year-over-year decline in fourth-quarter investment banking fees was the number that caught everyone’s attention. The stock dropped nearly 3% despite an overall earnings... 
by meridith dennes | Jan 11, 2026 | Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting
The 2025-2026 lateral market is active, but the rules have changed. Here’s what candidates should understand. If you’ve been following the investment banking lateral market lately, you’ve probably noticed something interesting: deal activity is... 
by meridith dennes | Dec 27, 2025 | Exit Opportunities, Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting, Summer Internships
The tier obsession is one of the most pervasive—and least examined—features of investment banking culture. Walk into any campus recruiting event, scroll any finance forum, or listen to any group of analysts grabbing drinks after a pitch, and you’ll hear the same... 
by meridith dennes | Dec 16, 2025 | Campus Recruiting, Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting, Networking
I’ve Interviewed Hundreds of Banking Candidates. Here’s How the Best Ones Show They Were Top Performers Without Ever Saying “Top Bucket” If you’ve spent any time recruiting for lateral roles in investment banking, you’ve heard the... 
by meridith dennes | Dec 14, 2025 | Campus Recruiting, Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting
Master the Skills That Separate Top Performers from Everyone Else It’s 2:30 AM on a Tuesday. You’re still at your desk, squinting at a DCF model that should have been finished hours ago. Your mouse hand is cramping from endless clicking through Excel... 
by meridith dennes | Dec 14, 2025 | Interviewing, Lateral Recruiting
One-on-One Coaching (Meridith Dennes) Reflecting on my own 15-year career journey working at top-tier bulge bracket investment banks and global financial institutions, I understand the complexities and challenges people face when recruiting for a job...