Investment Banking Crash Course

Man learnt to invest a long time ago, but investment bankinghas a relatively short history. It wasn't until the Dutch EastIndia Company, VOC, started issuing bonds and shares of stockto the general public that investment banking saw the light ofthe day. But since then, the services provided by investmentbanks has grown exponentially and it is today considered to beone of the most lucrative segments of financial institutions.
Investment banking is different from commercial or retail banksin the fact that they do not take deposits. But this is not theonly difference, there are other things that make investmentbanking unlike any other form of banking. There are a numberof functions performed by investment banks. Investmentbankers in the U. S. must be a licensed broker-dealer and theymust follow the rules and regulations laid down by theSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and FinancialIndustry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Knowing the history of investment banking, the manner inwhich it has evolved over the period of time and the differentservices that it offers can help anyone who wants to be aninvestment banker or who is interested in investment banking.