Michael Ventura advice toward investments beginners: “Read.. every day.. from cover to cover”

Breaking into the Wall Street world is no easy feat. It’s especially difficult for young people and students with non-traditional backgrounds and little finance experience.

Michael Ventura was once one of those students.He is now a director in equity capital markets at RBC Capital Markets.

“Be knowledgeable and be up to speed on current affairs. Read the Wall Street Journal or the New York Times every day, cover to cover,” Ventura said. “Absorb every section.” Yes, that even means the style section. Staying abreast on the forces that drive business on Wall Street is important, according to Ventura, but knowledge of more commonplace points of conversation is equally important. This, he said, will help young Wall Streeters over the course of their entire career.

“Reading will help young employees become well-rounded individuals which means, if they meet my wife after work and she tells them she works in the fashion business, they’ll be able to engage with her and contribute insightful or meaningful comments, and that’s very valuable,” Ventura said. “It shows maturity, it shows they will succeed in client-facing situations, and it engenders loyalty and a sense of community.”

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