Trojan Investing Playbook

Breaking into hedge funds as an undergrad is one of the most competitive and least transparent paths in finance. In this episode, we sit down with a Michigan Ross junior who recently went through the process to break down how it actually works - from early preparation to landing a sophomore summer role. We cover what makes hedge fund recruiting different from banking, how to build a strong stock p...

This week, we sat down with Aditya Vijayanagaram, Incoming Analyst at Ares Management (Direct Lending, LA), to break down how he went straight to the buyside out of undergrad. We cover what private credit actually is, how buyside recruiting differs from banking, what firms look for in candidates, and how to demonstrate an investor mindset in interviews, especially in credit-focused roles where dow...

This week, we sat down with Davis Schmitz, who began his career in investment banking at Lincoln International and is now Director of FP&A and Corporate Development at Mantis Innovation, to break down what Corporate Development actually looks like in practice. We discussed why he made the transition from IB to in-house M&A, how Corp Dev differs from traditional advisory roles, and what ski...

We’re joined by Finny Ho (Perella Weinberg Partners) and Lucas Turcuato (Barclays), both Incoming Summer Analysts, to discuss what makes technology investment banking unique - from staying ahead of rapidly evolving tech sectors to how technical you really need to be. They also share a few recruiting blunders and key moments that helped shape their outcomes, offering practical insight for students...

This week, we spoke with Aarav Sethi, an incoming Summer Analyst at Lazard (NYC), about the logistics and timelines behind New York specific recruiting and how it differs from other regions. Aarav also shared his personal recruiting journey and offered practical advice on what sophomores should prioritize going into winter break to stay competitive. 

Our guest this week is Leo Kim, a USC senior and Director of Capstone for the Trojan Investing Society, who summered at Houlihan Lokey’s Restructuring Group. Leo shared what makes RX unique, how to approach the recruiting process, and insights from leading Capstone, TIS’s technical training program focused on Excel modeling.

We sat down with Ishan Tandon, Incoming Analyst at Perella Weinberg Partners, to discuss how to craft standout behavioral stories, approach interviews with confidence, and differentiate beyond technicals.

In this episode, we sat down with Justin Lim (Incoming 2026 Summer Analyst at Perella Weinberg Partners). He shares his experience recruiting Industrials, tips and tricks to have success, and they key technicals that matter most!

In this episode, we sat down with Jake Hertzman (Incoming Investment Banking Analyst at Centerview), and Luke Finch (Incoming 2026 Summer Analyst at JP Morgan). They share their experience recruiting Healthcare, tips and tricks to have success, and they key technicals that matter most!

In this episode, we’re joined by Libby Ferencik, Senior Advisor of the Trojan Investing Society, who gives an honest and motivating account of her journey from recruiting to her upcoming full-time role in New York City. Libby walks us through her offer journey, and then takes us into her summer internship in NYC at Goldman Sachs’ in their Leveraged Finance group. She shares how she navigated that...

In this episode, we sat down with Ford Johnson, COO of the Trojan Investing Society (2026 Summer Analyst at Intrepid Financial Partners), and Jackson Laite (2026 Summer Analyst at Evercore). They share their paths into Houston Oil & Gas IB, recruiting nuances, and the key technical skills that matter most.

Co-hosts Max and Kruti sat down with the TIS Faculty Advisor, Professor Julia Plotts. As a long time professor at Marshall, Professor Plotts has seen the evolution of TIS and shared her vision for the club on this episode. We also talked about the financial services hub, TFA and her advice for sophomores embarking on the process.

We sat down with both of our Co-Presidents to hear about their unique journeys at USC, the recruiting process, and how they've shaped our club's vision. We also previewed some of the exciting events coming up - like Private Investing Day - that you won't want to miss.   If you're interested in finance, recruiting tips, or simply want to get to know the leaders behind the club, this episode is for...

This week, TIPs provides an overview of the Trojan Investing Society's programs and resources. The co-hosts, Maxim Wu and Kruti Dharsandiya, provide insights into their experience in TIS and their recruitment journeys, as well as what's to come on the podcast!