Training for research analysts is basically nonexistent on Wall Street resulting in a "baptism by fire" that forces the new analyst to develop expertise on their own through an agonizing process of trial and error. To overcome this deficiency, Sonkin and Johnson have written the ultimate "survival" guide for someone embarking on a career as an investment professional. Arnie Ursaner, a sell side veteran, who retired after 43-years on Wall Street said, "I wish I had this book when I started in the business. I remember my early days being characterized by a lot of hits and misses. This book provides valuable shortcuts to experience more hits and fewer misses."
The single most important element in survival is having knowledge, as knowledge dispels fear, and on Wall Street, fortune favors the prepared mind. Pitch the Perfect Investment accelerates the learning process, giving the college or MBA student the edge they need to succeed, whether they are pitching a stock idea in a job interview, in a stock pitch competition, or for a student-run investment fund. Echoing this sentiment, Aswath Damodaran, a prolific author of over 20 books on valuation and award-winning professor at New York University, said, "...
Sonkin and Johnson also seek to push the open-minded, seasoned investment professional out of their comfort zone and challenge them to think about familiar concepts differently. In an industry where even the most successful veterans must worry about younger managers snapping at their heels, Pitch the Perfect Investment equips the Chief Investment Officer or Director of Research with new tools, enabling them to tighten their analytical process and significantly improve communication and efficiency throughout their organization. As noted by Geoffrey Moore, author of several highly-acclaimed strategy books in the technology industry, "Much heartache will be avoided and faster decisions will be reached by any organization that adopts Sonkin and Johnson's recommendations."