Success stories in finance often sound glamorous from the outside -- prestigious roles, analytical work, impressive titles. But behind many of them are stories of doubt, struggle, financial pressure, and moments where giving up feels easier than continuing.
Sagar Rajwar's journey is one such story. Coming from a modest background, facing academic setbacks, and dealing with uncertainty about his future, he could easily have stopped trying. Instead, he rebuilt his path step by step and is now placed as an Investment Banking Analyst at FinVal Research & Consulting.
Here's his journey, in his own words.
Tell us a little about yourself and how your interest in finance began.
I come from a lower middle-class background, and early responsibilities taught me discipline and patience from a young age. I completed my B.Com (Hons) from Delhi University and initially pursued Chartered Accountancy. But despite sincere effort, I failed the CA Intermediate exam, and that left me feeling hopeless and directionless for a while. The turning point came when I discovered sectors like valuation, financial modeling, and investment banking. That discovery reignited my passion for finance, and I enrolled in QuintEdge's programme, which ultimately led to my placement as an Investment Banking Analyst.
What steps did you take once you decided this was your career path?
Once I had clarity on the direction I wanted to go, I looked for structured learning and practical skills. I had been following QuintEdge's YouTube content for some time and decided to enrol in their Investment Banking Programme. I committed to giving 100% effort no matter what.
What made you choose this particular programme?
The instructors were a key factor for me. I was impressed by the demo lectures from Yash Sir, which gave me real confidence in my choice. When I started learning from Sarfaraz Sir, I completely fell in love with the teaching style. The explanations were so clear that concepts just clicked, and my interest in finance kept growing rather than diminishing.
What were the biggest challenges you faced while preparing?
Initially, everything felt overwhelming. I lacked Excel proficiency and struggled with many concepts. The six-hour weekend classes made it hard to absorb everything at once. My solution was methodical: rewatch, revise, repeat. I went through lectures multiple times until I truly understood each topic.
The major breakthrough came during a two-day bootcamp where everything connected. I learnt resume optimisation, LinkedIn strategies, recruiter psychology, and interview techniques. The mock interviews proved invaluable — they prepared me thoroughly for my actual job interview.
How did the programme and mentors help you during this journey?
The programme gave me clarity and confidence when I felt completely lost. Beyond teaching concepts, the mentors helped me believe in myself again. I am deeply grateful to Yash Sir, Sarfaraz Sir, Abhinav Sir, Jinay Jain Sir, Anmol Sir, and the entire support team for their guidance throughout this journey.
What outcome did your efforts lead to?
I secured placement as an Investment Banking Analyst at FinVal Research & Consulting. Reaching this stage felt incredibly rewarding for someone who had previously felt completely lost and directionless.
Can you share your study strategy with students who want to follow a similar path?
My systematic approach was: Lecture → Same-day Revision → Rewatch → Practice → Repeat.
I rewatched lectures until I achieved complete understanding, particularly for technical topics, and reviewed financial models repeatedly. Rather than looking for shortcuts, I focused on discipline and fully utilised every resource available:
- Never missed sessions or skipped provided materials.
- Treated technical and behavioural training with equal seriousness.
- Approached the entire preparation as genuine job training, not merely coursework.
What message would you like to give to students who are just starting out?
Your background does not decide your future. I am a B.Com graduate with a three-year gap and CA dropout status, and I still made it into investment banking. The one essential factor was discipline. If you stay disciplined and believe in yourself, everything is possible.