Meet: Alex Wong, Treasury Junior Analyst '21

Meet Alex

• Alex Wong (he/him) is a Junior Analyst on the Asset Management team in the Asset and Advisory Department.
• He is an American national and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Information Systems at Boston University and is interested in investment analysis.
• He is focused on expanding his understanding of financial markets and will pursue a master’s degree after the Junior Analyst Program

What’s your typical day as a Treasury Junior Analyst?

• Actively trade Mortgage-Backed Securities specified pools, TBA, CLO, ABS, CMO, and deposits to produce excess returns versus the benchmark
• Perform credit analysis on prospective deals within the structured products market, specifically collateralized loan obligations and asset-backed securities
• Develop dashboards and models to facilitate portfolio management Structured Products team

What is your greatest challenge and success as a Junior Analyst?

The greatest challenge I have faced as a Junior Analyst has been the learning curve of the investment industry. The Junior Analyst Program has exposed me to various securities and markets and, consequently, a substantial amount of information and industry jargon, which takes time to become fluent in and requires focus to keep up to date on.

My greatest success in the Junior Analyst program is that the team uses the tools, dashboards, and analyses I developed to make decisions. It is satisfying to know that while I am learning, I am also creating value for the team.My greatest success in the Junior Analyst program is that the team uses the tools, dashboards, and analyses that I developed for their decision-making. It’s satisfying to know that while I am learning, I am also creating value for the team.

What do you appreciate most about the Junior Analyst program?

Coming directly from undergraduate into the workforce can be daunting. Inexperienced in the working culture and industry, I appreciate the program enabling me to have firsthand exposure to the finance industry in a learning-conducive environment with mentors who want me to succeed in the future.

What has been the involvement of senior colleagues with your work?

Senior colleagues assign projects with real-world implications and provide the necessary guidance to complete them. My colleagues take great pride and energy in ensuring that I understand the concepts that underpin my work.

Why did you apply to the Summer Internship Program?

I applied to the Summer Internship Program because the World Bank’s mission and emphasis on diversity resonated with me. I also wanted the opportunity to become a professional in the investment industry.

How did the Treasury Summer Internship prepare you for this position?

The internship prepared me to do work s that is important and pertinent to the industry. For example, during my internship, I created a presentation that explored the development of the ESG market. As a Junior Analyst, I have continued my research beyond ESG but have applied a similar analysis to the structured securities market.

What are your goals after your two years as a Junior Analyst?

After the Junior Analyst Program, I plan to attend graduate school to study quantitative finance and work in the investment industry in structured products.

How has the Junior Analyst Program prepared you to achieve these goals?

The program has given me the chance to work in the industry that I am passionate about, learn the nuances of the discipline, and build a network of mentors.