My name is Ben Smith and I am currently an Equity Research Associate at D.A. Davidson. Prior to Equity Research, I worked in Investment Management for 5 years at Spider Management and Access Industries. If you’re interested in careers at endowments/family offices or sell-side research, or if you’re interested in the CFA track - do not hesitate to reach out!

My name is Love Patel, and I am currently an Associate at the The Riverside Company on their RCAF team. Prior to this, I was an Investment Banking Analyst in the Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT) group at Canaccord Genuity in New York, where I worked on high-profile deals, including sell-side processes and carve-outs, and collaborated closely with lean deal teams to deliver strategic solutions for clients.

I hold a Master of Science in Finance from Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Kansas. I pursued a career in investment banking to build the technical and strategic expertise needed to advise on complex transactions and drive value creation. I am always happy to discuss insights on navigating investment banking recruiting, day-to-day responsibilities, and transitioning from academic foundations to professional success, as well as sharing my experiences working in dynamic team environments.