Coaching Programs
Most candidates present stock pitches.
I teach you to defend them - and get the offer.
How it Works
Every client follows the same proven process:
Pitch Development → Pressure Testing → Final Refinement
The depth and repetition depends on your situation - we'll figure that out together.
Step 1: SCHEDULE A Free 30-Minute DIAGNOSTIC
We discuss your background, target firms, timeline, and goals. I’ll tell you exactly where your pitch stands and what needs to change.
Step 2: We BUILD YOUR PLAN
Together we define the right scope - sessions, mock interviews, support, and timeline - based on your recruiting schedule and starting point .
Step 3: WE GET TO WORK
We develop your pitch, pressure-test it from every angle, and you walk in confident and ready to get the offer.
"Ryan pinpointed exactly what was wrong with my pitch and gave me clear, actionable guidance on how to build a convincing investment thesis."
— Jack Pu, Kellogg MBA
Why this Works
"Most interview prep teaches you how to present a pitch. I teach you how to defend one."
The difference is everything. Portfolio managers don't evaluate you on your slides, your model, or your narrative. They evaluate you on judgment under pressure—the same way they evaluate analysts every week inside the firm.
My system works because it mirrors the actual process PMs use to test investment ideas:
1. Risk First, Not Upside First
Most candidates lead with upside. Real investors lead with downside. I teach you to structure your pitch the way PMs actually think - because that's how I thought when I was allocating capital.
2. Real Variant Perception—Not "Good Company, Good Industry"
Consensus thinking kills interviews. We develop a defensible, differentiated insight—the same standard investment committees expect.
3. Pressure Testing That Mirrors the Interview Room
Mock interviews aren't enough. I run the same style of cross-examination I used as a PM and CIO in real committee meetings—skeptical, fast, and direct. If your thesis can survive me, it will survive them.
4. Pattern Recognition You Can't Fake
I've seen more than 1,000 pitches from analysts, PMs, and job candidates. I know what good sounds like. I know what breaks. And I know exactly what triggers an instant "no hire."
5. You Don't Learn a Script—You Learn to Think Like an Investor
A script falls apart the moment a PM asks a question you didn't expect. Judgment doesn't. My system teaches the mental models PMs use, so you can adapt on the fly—confidently, calmly, and credibly.
That's why this works. Because it's built on how buy-side hiring actually happens—not how schools and bootcamps think it happens.
Don’t Just Take My Word For It
"I 1000% recommend investing in the 1-on-1 coaching... I landed my dream job."
— Shira Meir, Portfolio Valuation, Houlihan Lokey
The Stock Pitch Lab Method
What We Work On
Every engagement covers this framework. The depth and repetition depends on where you’re starting and how much time you have.
Lab Diagnostic: If you have a pitch, we tear it apart and find the fatal flaws. If you're starting from scratch, we identify the right idea based on your background and target firms. Either way, we build your roadmap from here.
Variant Perception: "The market thinks X, I think Y, and here's why." If you can't state that in one sentence, you don't have a pitch - you have a book report. We develop differentiated insight and structure your investment case for maximum conviction.
Financials (Signal vs. Noise): In any business, 20% of the variables drive 80% of the stock price. We strip your model down to the 2-3 key debates that actually matter - not the 12 drivers you put in your model.
Primary Research Edge: Conduct channel checks and proprietary research that separates your pitch from consensus. Knowing you should do primary research is different from knowing how to design research that supports a forward thesis.
The Bear Case & Pre-Mortem: Not generic risks like "competition could intensify." Specific, measurable triggers. "If their on-time delivery rate drops below 95%, my thesis breaks." We build bulletproof counterarguments into your thesis before anyone asks the question.
Pitch Architecture & Defense Warfare: Structure your delivery, control the room, and handle live Q&A. This is where we pressure-test everything until nothing rattles you.
What You Get
Walk into interviews knowing you can handle anything - and get the offer.
What's included:
1-on-1 sessions: Direct, founder-led coaching tailored to your specific pitch and target firms
Mock interviews: PM-style pressure testing that replicates the real interview room. These aren't practice runs with classmates who don't know what to ask. I ask the questions PMs actually ask - the ones that expose weak thinking, not the ones that sound tough.
You’ll face questions such as :
“Ten analysts cover this company. What's in your model that's not in theirs?"
"Walk me through what breaks your thesis."
"Your bull case assumes margin expansion. What if they compress?"
We practice until you can defend from any angle - without hedging, without freezing, without sounding like a student.
Ongoing Support: Access to me throughout your recruiting cycle. When a fund calls with 48 hours notice, you're not on your own.
Flexible Pacing: Some candidates need to be ready in 2 weeks. Others want 6-8 weeks of deeper preparation. We adjust based on your timeline.
The exact scope - number of sessions, number of mocks, level of support - depends on your situation. We'll figure out what makes sense during the diagnostic.
Track Record
"Ryan helped me distinguish between what truly matters... and what interviewers are actually assessing."
"Before working with Ryan, I struggled to clearly articulate why a stock was a compelling investment. Through his guidance, I learned to confidently explain the key drivers of intrinsic value. The skills I developed didn't just elevate my pitch quality; they gave me a level of confidence that carried through every interview. I have no doubt Ryan’s mentorship played a direct role in helping me secure the offer."
— Justin T., Research Analyst
"The mock interview and feedback were incredibly helpful—especially the punchline-first structure, the pre-mortem framing, and incorporating primary research.”
— YALE SOM STUDENT
Candidates I've coached have gone on to Goldman Sachs, Oaktree Capital Management, and other leading investment firms.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
No. Many candidates start from scratch. If you don't have a ticker yet, we'll begin with idea selection—finding the right stock based on your background and target firms. If you already have a pitch in progress, we'll diagnose it and go from there.
-
Depends on where you're starting and your recruiting timeline. Some candidates are ready in 2-3 weeks with intensive prep. Others prefer 6-8 weeks for deeper development. We'll build a plan that fits your schedule.
-
That's what the diagnostic is for. I'll assess where your pitch stands and recommend the right approach. No commitment required.
-
This is high-touch, 1:1 coaching designed for serious candidates targeting top-tier buy-side roles. We discuss scope and investment during the diagnostic once I understand your specific situation.
-
Most prep focuses on modeling skills and technical questions—things that are table stakes. You can learn that anywhere. What you can't find is someone who teaches you how to actually pitch an idea, how to structure your thesis the way PMs think, how to develop real variant perception, and how to defend your position under cross-examination. Guides and bootcamps don't cover that. Mock interviews with classmates won't get you there. That's the gap Stock Pitch Lab fills—and it's the part that actually decides who gets hired.
-
No one can. But I can guarantee you'll sound like someone who understands markets, not like someone who memorized frameworks.
-
Yes. The core skill—pitching convincingly—applies to both. We tailor focus areas for your target firms.
Ready to Start?
I work with a limited number of clients each recruiting season. If you're targeting interviews in the next 2-3 months, let's talk now to ensure we have time to build your pitch properly.
In our call, I'll evaluate where your pitch stands and tell you exactly what needs to change.