Benedix Blog

Each year we deal with thousands of students, graduates  and working professionals and we know that the world of finance can be confusing when you’re just starting out and trying to work out which job is right for you. There’s a lots of misconceptions and - dare we say it - misinformation out there.

To give you guys a hand in securing your career in finance, we set about developing a course that makes everything much clearer. We asked experienced City professionals to give you the benefit of their experience and insights and we interviewed some of the highest achievers in the sector (including executives and Directors with over 40 years experience in the banking and finance sector).

All their experience and tips are condensed into one intense day of professional training at the City Professional Workshop. If you want to know what the top people in the City know, there’s a couple of spaces remaining on our workshop on Tuesday 23rd September. You can find out more about the day here.

“This workshop was an amazing crash course in ‘The City’.
R. Crowter-Jones, University of Oxford

“This workshop is brilliant! Straight to the point, no waffle, great value for money! Inside information about real life in the City is truly insightful and priceless. Would recommend it to anyone interested in a career in finance.
Z. Theuzhanov – BA Hons Finance, Richmond American International University

“This is a great opportunity for people aspiring to work in the City to learn how the City works and also gives a further insight into the different roles within the industry.
K. Pemberton – MSc Investment Management, Cass Business School

Economics can be extremely complicated depending on who you speak to, but the following makes it very very simple! Enjoy…

ECONOMIC MODELS EXPLAINED WITH COWS:

SOCIALISM 
You have 2 cows. 
You give one to your neighbour.  

COMMUNISM 
You have 2 cows. 
The State takes both and gives you some milk. 

BUREAUCRATISM 
You have 2 cows. 
The State takes both, shoots one, milks the other, and then throws the milk away… 

TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM 
You have two cows. 
You sell one and buy a bull. 
Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. 
You sell them and retire on the income. 

SURREALISM 
You have two giraffes. 
The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

AN AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows. 
You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows. 
Later, you hire a consultant to analyse why the cow has dropped dead. 

ENRON VENTURE CAPITALISM 

You have two cows. 
You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows. The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to a Cayman Island Company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company. The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more. You sell one cow to buy a new president of the United States, leaving you with nine cows. No balance sheet provided with the  release. The public then buys your bull.