You've Heard of Investment Banking. But What Exactly Is It?

If you're interested in finance, you've probably discovered that there are many different fields to choose from. Between accounting, investment banking, personal finance, and everything in between, it can feel overwhelming. For example, investment banking, commercial banking, and investment management are all related concepts, yet they serve different purposes. If you're curious about the investment banking world, you're not alone. Here is what investment banking is in simple terms, as well as how the industry works.

What is investment banking?

Investment banking may sound intimidating, but it really just means helping companies, institutions, and governments raise money and make better financial decisions. Imagine you have a lemonade stand but you need more money to buy cups and lemons to make more lemonade.

Investment bankers help you find people who have money that want to invest it in your lemonade stand. They help startups as well as big companies raise billions of dollars to fund new projects. It's like being a matchmaker between people who have money and people who need money.

Investment banking also focuses on helping companies manage their money. Think of it like a financial advisor who advises large organizations and the government. Instead of just recommending the best savings account, an investment banker helps them make big financial moves like buying and selling businesses, maximizing their investments, and minimizing their risks. So, it's like having a super-powered stock broker with access to tons of resources and experts to help large companies make the best decisions possible.

What do investment bankers do?

The answer varies depending on their specialty. There are different fields within investment banking. You may have heard of terms such as securities underwriting, initial public offerings (IPOs), and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) dominating headlines. Here are some of the types of services they provide:

Raising capital

Investment bankers help companies raise money through equity or debt financing, private placement, and securities underwriting. This means helping companies issue stocks, bonds, or other financial instruments to investors for capital.

For example, investment bankers provide advisory services to companies going public. As part of the IPO process, they will determine the valuation of the company, identify potential investors, and help the company prepare to be a publicly traded entity.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A)

M&A involves assisting companies with buying, selling, or merging with other companies. When two companies come together, there are two different ways it can happen. One is a merger, where they blend to form a new entity. The other is an acquisition, where one company buys or takes over another. The process can be complicated and complex.

Using the lemonade stand example, an investment banker would help you find a similar or complementary stand and help determine if you should buy it, sell yours, or merge them together. They will recommend the right buying price as well as selling price.

Research and financial services

Investment bankers also guide companies through complex financial decisions, financial restructuring, and corporate strategy. They provide research from financial analysts who examine various economic trends, investment opportunities, and the dangers and potential financial benefits. At its core, investment banking is about being smart with money, which is why investment banking is one of the best-paid professions.

In short, investment bankers act as intermediaries between issuers (the ones seeking capital) and investors (the ones providing capital). They are the financial wizards behind many successful business deals and ventures. They also provide valuable advisory services to clients who seek to maximize their investments, minimize their risks, or manage their projects. With skilled professionals acting as intermediaries between issuers and investors, investment banking plays a vital role in the world of finance, helping businesses and governments raise capital and achieve their financial goals.