Our People in Investment Banking
Want to know what it's like to work at Wells Fargo? Our team members can tell you more about what makes this a unique place to begin your career. Click below to view profiles of our team members in Investment Banking and learn about their experiences!
Abel - Asset-Backed Finance, Wells Fargo Securities
Alisha - Energy & Power, Investment Banking, Wells Fargo Securities
Fabiola - Energy & Power, Investment Banking, Wells Fargo Securities
Keith - Mergers & Acquisitions, Investment Banking, Wells Fargo Securities
Margaret - Consumer, Healthcare, and Gaming, Investment Banking
Travis - Financial Institutions, Investment Banking, Wells Fargo Securities
Meet Abel
Location: London, UK
Business Group: Asset-Backed Finance, Wells Fargo Securities
Education: B.A., Public Policy, Duke University
While many competitors exit or scale back their securities platform, WFS team members benefit from a unique environment where they are encouraged to explore new opportunities to strategically grow market share. This makes WFS an attractive employer, as it provides new hires the opportunity to make meaningful contributions relatively early in their careers. Whether it's interacting with clients or coordinating new strategies with the team, new hires will find that WFS provides them with the chance to build new skill-sets, develop a detailed understanding of products, and make a tangible impact on the business.
What do you love about your job?I particularly enjoy asset-backed finance because it’s a unique hybrid of traditional investment banking and sales and trading (S&T). Like investment banking, many of the assignments are long-term projects. But like S&T, we are also market-facing and regularly engage with both the sales force and investors. I also enjoy the group because our objective is to provide tailored solutions for clients based on their specific needs. It’s very unlikely that the next project we work on will be the same as the prior one, which forces our team to constantly think of creative solutions and adapt to an ever-evolving market.
Have you ever changed groups/locations within WFS? If so, what was your experience with that process?I moved to London to assist our team in further expanding our European platform. The move was fairly seamless and well-coordinated between the business team and Human Resources, which helped with my initial housing search and obtaining a visa. Although watching Monday Night Football at 2 a.m. will certainly be a major hurdle for me, in an increasingly global market, it goes without saying that there are significant benefits to having worked both domestically and internationally.
Meet Alisha
Location: Houston, TX
Business Group: Energy & Power, Investment Banking, Wells Fargo Securities
Education: MSc., Automotive Engineering, Cranfield University, UK; M.B.A., Finance, Carnegie Mellon University
Why did you choose to work at Wells Fargo Securities (WFS)?
Wells Fargo Securities offered two things I was looking for: growth and stability. WFS has seen a tremendous amount of momentum in terms of growth; it has been the fastest-growing investment bank since 2010. In the Energy and Power Investment Banking group in Houston, there is a group of managing directors who have worked together since the mid-1990s. In investment banking, it is rare to find a group of individuals who have remained together for so long. This speaks to the success the group has seen.
What do you wish you had known when going through campus recruiting?
Coming from an engineering background, it took me a little longer to figure out what career path within finance I wanted to pursue. It wasn’t until midway through my first semester that I realized investment banking was the right career path. I would encourage candidates interested in finance to begin exploring possible career paths during the summer before the start of their MBA program by reaching out to people in the industry. This will ensure that you have enough time to network, and prepare for technical interviews.
What do you think makes someone successful at WFS?
Some of the best advice I received was to treat each member of the group as your partner. Each deal team is made up of talented individuals. As an associate, it is your job to help motivate team members to perform to their maximum potential. In addition, hard work and dedication are a necessity for success.
What do you love about your job?
I love the fact that I never stop learning and that I am challenged on a daily basis.
What has been your greatest achievement at WFS?
I have worked on five live deals in one day, including one in which we were the lead. This was a testament to the importance of using the skills of your deal team members.
What is the best thing about living and working in your city?
Houston is the energy capital of Texas and a majority of our clients are headquartered here. Given the close proximity, as an energy investment banker based in Houston you have the opportunity to visit clients and join senior bankers at meetings with clients. In addition, the cost of living in Houston is lower than many other US cities and I love the heat!
Who has been the most influential person in your WFS career and why?
If I had to pick the most influential person in my WFS career so far, it would be James Kipp, head of the Energy and Power Investment Banking Practice and a member of the Investment Banking and Capital Markets Operating Committee. James joined Wells Fargo in 1993 at the inception of the Energy practice. Despite James’ busy schedule, he places a great emphasis on each team member’s development, and he acknowledges each person’s contributions. James is extremely intelligent and successful, yet he also has a great deal of humility. The culture James stands for resonates throughout the Houston Energy Group.
Where do you see yourself professionally in the next three to five years?
In three years, my goal is to be a vice president in the Energy Investment Banking group in Houston.
What would you do if you weren't working at WFS?
Apart from finance, my other passion is cars. If I weren’t working at WFS, I would be interested in working for a Formula 1 team, either on the engineering side as a race engineer or on the management side. Similar to investment banking, Formula 1 is a fast-paced and highly competitive environment that focuses on continuous innovation.
What do you like to do when you aren't at work?
I love sports, so I generally try to do something active when I’m not working. I also try to travel outside of Houston one weekend per month to visit friends and family across North America.
Meet Fabiola
Location: Charlotte, NC
Business Group: Energy & Power, Investment Banking, Wells Fargo Securities
Education: B.A., Political Science, University of Chicago
Why did you choose to work at Wells Fargo Securities (WFS)?
Wells Fargo has demonstrated that it is "the most valuable financial services institution" in the United States. Most importantly, the company is growing and expanding across products and geographic locations. As a young professional, this growth offers invaluable opportunities to jumpstart a career.
Why is WFS a good place to start your career?
WFS combines the work ethic of New York with the hospitality of the South. As a young professional, I am challenged every day. Nonetheless, I know there is always a helping hand available.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is learning how to use the available resources to complete the assigned tasks. Many resources and tools are available to help us. However, it is challenging when you don't know yet how to use them.
What is the best thing about living and working in your city?
Charlotte is unlike any other city, and this is what makes it great. For me, it is interesting to see how quickly the city has evolved. I am excited to see what the future holds for Charlotte as it transforms itself into the "next Atlanta."
What do you like to do when you aren't at work?
I enjoy biking and trying new foods and desserts.
Meet Keith
Location: Charlotte, NC
Business Group: Mergers & Acquisitions, Investment Banking, Wells Fargo Securities
Education: B.S., Mechanical Engineering,Johns Hopkins University; M.S.E., Systems Engineering, University of Pennsylvania; M.B.A., Corporate Finance and Investment Banking, University of Virginia
Why is WFS a good place to start your career?
Wells Fargo is a great place to start a career because it is experiencing incredible growth. From day one, everyone is expected to contribute to the team and take on responsibilities that far exceed what you would experience at other firms and in other industries. I can’t imagine another job where I could have learned so much in such a short period.
What do you love about your job?
I enjoy working alongside senior management as they contemplate and execute strategic and transformational transactions. It’s incredible how quickly you can learn from your prior experiences and start adding value to the team.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Every day and every deal brings a new challenge, but overall the most challenging aspect of the job is managing multiple processes. The mergers and acquisitions group has been extremely busy this past year, which means that associates are staffed on multiple deals, pitches, and other tasks — which often share similar tight deadlines.
What is the best thing about living and working in your city?
I've spent most of my life in the Northeast and couldn’t be happier with my decision to relocate to Charlotte, N.C. The people are great, the beach and mountains are both only a few hours away, and a "tough" commute is anything more than 15 minutes (unheard of in most other cities). I also love the rapidly expanding "food scene" in Charlotte, and the fact that there are number of sports teams and stadiums located just a few minutes from the office.
Who has been the most influential person in your WFS career and why?
One of the great things about WFS is that the culture is extremely collegial, which means that everyone from the most senior managing director to the analysts are willing to act as sounding boards and help you navigate tough situations. In the beginning, I leaned heavily on the more experienced associates for guidance on handling different types of analysis, interacting with clients and my deal teams. Most recently, I’ve been spending more time with my senior mentor, who has been helping me think through my development as a banker and future leader.
Describe your experience and what you learned as a WFS summer associate.
I spent the summer with WFS between my first and second years at business school. It was a challenging and educational 10 weeks, but it was crucial to helping me get off to a strong start as a first-year associate. I spent the majority of my time working on a live transaction that allowed me to interact with senior bankers, clients, and the junior members of the deal team. It’s a true testament to the summer program that there were no real surprises in the first year that I spent with WFS.
What do you like to do when you aren't at work?
It doesn't matter what the weather is like, if I'm not at work I'm most likely outside somewhere. Charlotte is surrounded by mountains, state parks, and lakes, which are all readily accessible on the weekend. When I can't get out of the city, I enjoy meeting up with friends at different restaurants, drinking wine, and eating great food.
Meet Margaret
Location: New York, NY
Business Group: Consumer, Healthcare, and Gaming, Investment Banking
Education: B.S., Business Administration, Washington University in St. Louis; M.B.A., Finance and Management, University of Pennsylvania
Why did you choose to work at Wells Fargo Securities (WFS)?
I chose to work at WFS because of the people — the people that I met during the recruiting process, as well as the team members that I got to know during my internship.
Why is WFS a good place to start your career?
WFS is a good place to start a career because it is a line of business that continues to grow and expand. A growing company is a changing company, and those changes give employees new opportunities and daily challenges to overcome.
What do you wish you had known when going through campus recruiting?
I wish I had known how important it is to not only meet people at financial institutions, but also to reach out to the people that work in the groups that you are interested in. Each company has its own culture, and each group within the financial institution has its own subculture. Once hired into the business, getting along with the people in your group is important. So it’s a good idea to find the time to speak with them during the recruiting process. If you know which group you would like to work in, go and meet them. Not only does it give you a better idea of the group’s dynamic, it also gives the group members the chance to interact with you and get to know you.
What do you think makes someone successful at WFS?
It is important that a WFS team member has a great attitude, and is personable and down-to-earth. Additionally, you must be driven, motivated to work hard, and willing to put in the long hours that this job demands.
What do you love about your job?
I love the daily challenges in my job. I never go to work and do the same things over and over again. Each company has its own concerns, strengths, goals, and strategies. Learning how to adapt to each company’s needs helps keep me engaged.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
The unpredictability of the job has been the most challenging aspect. Many may think that the long hours would be the most difficult part, but for me, not knowing exactly what is going to pop up at the last minute and cause a change in plans continues to be a challenge.
What is the best thing about living and working in your city?
New York City is the financial capital of the U.S., if not the world. I am constantly surrounded by brilliant people, not only here at WFS, but at the other banks as well. I also love the life in this city. No matter what time you leave the office, there is always something going on.
Describe your experience and what you learned as a WFS Summer Associate.
Our group really does treat summer associates like full-time team members; I was thrown right into the mix on my first day and was expected to perform. My group made sure that the experience I had over the summer prepared me for my future as a full-time associate.
What do you like to do when you aren't at work?
I just try to relax during my time away from the office — sleep, catch up with friends, watch TV … anything that helps me unwind.
Meet Travis
Location: Charlotte, NC
Business Group: Financial Institutions, Investment Banking, Wells Fargo Securities
Education: B.S., Business Administration, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Why did you choose to work at Wells Fargo Securities (WFS)?
I chose to work at Wells Fargo Securities because of the culture and sincerity of WFS' team members. My first introduction to Wells Fargo was through the Business Symposium at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. I served as an executive host to a director in Retirement Management, and I met many senior-level team members from WFS over the course of two days. I remained in contact with WFS and continued to see how serious the firm is about building and maintaining relationships with candidates. These first professional relationships led me to meet more people, solidifying my interest in WFS.
Why is WFS a good place to start your career?
The fact that there is a universal open-door policy at WFS makes it great for anyone starting a career. There are many avenues to meet peers and more senior team members. Additionally, WFS is part of a huge institution; even if you don't start in your “dream” position, your can often find another opportunity somewhere else in the firm. If you are looking for the opportunity to meet new people, be challenged, and grow as a professional on a daily basis, then WFS is a great place to start.
What do you wish you had known when going through campus recruiting?
I wish I had known more about the different segments of WFS. I've learned progressively, but the faster you understand the different pieces of WFS and how they are connected, the faster you can excel.
What do you think makes someone successful at WFS?
You have to be outgoing, hard-working, and have a positive attitude. The leaders within WFS share these characteristics. Additionally, every team flourishes when people are in good spirits.
What do you love about your job?
I love the challenges, the relationships I’ve built, and the skills (social, professional, and analytical) that I'm gaining, which will serve me well in the future.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Learning when to pause and recharge. We all know hours in investment banking are often very long. However, managing your time and forcing yourself to take breaks is something you learn as you progress. For example, taking a brief walk in the afternoons or simply going to the gym can make the difference. I still don't have a solid system, but I'm working on it.
What has been your greatest achievement so far at WFS?
During my time at WFS, I have earned the trust to work with significant autonomy in many scenarios. As a trader, I was able to run the desk and talk to clients, salespeople, and other traders on the street while the senior traders were traveling. As a banker, I've been able to lead efforts in extensive content generation and client discussions without continuous assistance of senior bankers.
What is the best thing about living and working in your city?
Convenience. Food, lodging, work, and entertainment can all be found within a few blocks of each other. Also, most of the younger crowd tends to stay in Uptown, which makes it perfect for get-togethers after work.
Who has been the most influential person in your WFS career and why?
I couldn't attribute my development to any one person. I have built relationships at every level, and each of these individuals has contributed to my success in a unique way.
Have you ever changed groups/locations within WFS?
Last year, I moved from Fixed-Income Sales and Trading to Investment Banking. The transition was smoother than I had anticipated thanks to the many relationships I have built. Having a strong network within WFS provided me with many people who were interested in my career development; I actually ended up working on the same team as someone I met at the University of North Carolina years ago. That's the beauty of WFS. Once you join the company and work hard, your colleagues get to know and respect you, and moving internally becomes an option.