307 | Garth Friesen | A Peek into the World of Investment Banking

2022-11-29

Ever wondered what the world of investment banking looks like? And about the pressures and challenges that bankers go through on a daily basis? On today’s show, we have with us Garth Friesen who shares with us distilled wisdom on resilience, investing vs. trading, and risk management. 19-year-old Garth got into Student Works just because “his friends were doing it”. And while he already had the book smarts, running a painting business helped Garth develop the life smarts that laid the base for a spectacular career. Inspired by a friend of his, Garth decid...

Ever wondered what the world of investment banking looks like? And about the pressures and challenges that bankers go through on a daily basis?

On today’s show, we have with us Garth Friesen who shares with us distilled wisdom on resilience, investing vs. trading, and risk management.

19-year-old Garth got into Student Works just because “his friends were doing it”. And while he already had the book smarts, running a painting business helped Garth develop the life smarts that laid the base for a spectacular career.

Inspired by a friend of his, Garth decided to get into investment banking, and his first employer was a Japanese Bank based out of Toronto.

After getting some experience under his belt, Garth was quick to figure out that he was lacking in certain important skills. And he decided to pursue a full-time MBA.

Having a full-time MBA did not make it any easier for Garth to get his “foot inside the door”. And he had to go through 12 interviews to get accepted at Merrill Lynch.

This segment of the show is particularly interesting as Garth emphasizes the importance of resilience when you are going after your dream job.

And once you snag your dream job, you have to start at the bottom, and work your butt off to prove yourself – and differentiate yourself from your peers who are equally capable and hard-working as you.

Garth’s attitude towards failures, or setbacks, as he prefers to call them, is particularly refreshing.

We talk about the importance of EQ vs. IQ, risk management, and the difference between investing and trading in today’s show.

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show

Why trading is NOT a solo sport (The importance of collaboration and EQ in trading)
Understanding the dynamics of the trading world
Trading vs. Investing – why they are fundamentally different
How a reluctance to cut your losses can lead you to lose your shirt
And so much more…

Resources

Bite the Ass off a Bear

Student Works

Chris Thomson LinkedIn

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