NeverBanked

Life changed completely since leaving IB. Backstory ⬇️

I'm Nico. In February '25, I decided to leave my job as an Associate in large cap M&A. Next, I went on a trip across South America to do three things: (i) create content, (ii) practice new martial arts and (iii) figure out what's next.

In August, my best friend and I founded a cigar company, turning a passion into a real business. At the same time, HSG asked me to teach an IB Interview Prep course for their MBF program (the one I had graduated from just 4 years earlier). I'm glad I said yes: it showed me a gap, one I saw again when teaching an IB seminar at Bocconi a few weeks later.

Having practiced content creation while traveling (on another account) and having founded a first business (Not just a cigar. A statement.), I felt ready to fill that gap. Over New Year 25/26, I bought a whiteboard and locked in completely for a month (literally didn't leave the house): filming online courses (that's what the whiteboard was for), developing a business strategy, setting up automations and building in public on a brand new account (this one).

After about 30 posts (in January '26), I had my very first viral moment. What a rush. But how would I make a living off some views & likes?! By then I'd been off payroll for an entire year (!). While the brand kept growing, I kept optimizing and improving my offering.

In July, with the small operating team I'd built by then, we welcomed my largest cohort of students yet. This month, we grew even further!

So much more happened behind the scenes (some of it in this video - I moved to Cartagena, got married and started building a family of my own). It still feels unreal that out of nothing (literally), we've built a real community and business in less than a year.

For 2027, my vision is clear. I want my students to land offers, my business to scale and my family to be happy & healthy. Follow Nico Schwarz to join me on this wild journey, and level up your finance game along the way.

Who would have thought IB would lead me here 🇨🇴

Close to five years in large cap M&A at UBS Zurich. Last year I left to build something of my own. I taught myself content creation, started teaching IB prep at HSG and Bocconi, and built NeverBanked to help students break into investment banking.

Now the days start at 5am in Colombia, with calls to Europe, coaching, content and everything in between a business owner needs to think of.

Drop Nico Schwarz a follow if you want to see how far we can take this, and level up your finance game on the side.

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