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The Full Stack for PE Out of Undergrad

One-of-a-kind prep to go straight to the buyside

Get PE Analyst Interview Ready with a veteran of UBS LA (now Moelis LA), Golden Gate Capital and HIG, who has led trainings at KKR, Carlyle, Sixth Street, and countless other top-tier firms.

Master the full stack: core technicals, mental math, business cases, Business Mechanics and LBOs.

Stop memorizing answers and start seeing businesses like an investor.

Mike Kimpel, Financeable founder, in a blue blazer
Mike Kimpel
Founder, Financeable • Ex-Columbia Business School Faculty
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Average PE Analyst Total Comp. $200K–$250K
Hours of lessons 40+
Certifications 7
Practice questions 3,495
On this page
Student success The challenge Comparison
Comparison

How Financeable compares to legacy training

Feature
Financeable logo
The other guys
Learning method
Mental models
Interview prep
Teaching style
Visual concepts in motion
Dynamic frameworks for any problem
Embedded in the course
Real person on camera (Mike)
Static slides + audio voiceover
Memorize definitions + formulas
Separate guides
Audio voiceover on slides

And this is exactly why this works

Legacy Wall Street training firms will teach you the formulas. We teach you how to THINK like an investor.
Most courses build around one company case. Our dynamic frameworks work for ANY business: consumer, software, healthcare, industrials, it doesn’t matter.
You’ll hold these mental maps in your head. When the VP hands you a paper LBO or a case with no Excel, you won’t freeze. You’ll run the math, structure your answer and land the offer.
Look past the spreadsheet. Learn the ‘business machine’ framework so you can judge what drives growth, margins and cash flow, and learn to tell a good business from a good investment.
Stop memorizing case answers. Learn frameworks for each type of PE analyst interview case, so you can structure any case on the spot and tie every qualitative point to the numbers.
Go beyond the LBO model. Understand teasers, CIMs, IOIs, diligence, binding bids and financing, and how a private equity deal actually gets done from sourcing to close.
Light gray quotation mark opening a student testimonial
Working with Mike Kimpel/Financeable has been one of the best experiences I have had. His passion for helping me understand finance and willingness to chat whenever I needed help made him the best mentor I had to understand the opportunities within finance and investing (& more!).
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Samual S.
Summer Analyst
Certificate

Certificate of completion included

Financeable LBO Modeling certificate of completion

Why the certificates matter

Top private equity firms receive hundreds of applications from lookalike candidates. Your certificate signals:

Structured preparation

You invested in a thorough, practitioner-built curriculum, not random YouTube playlists.

Practitioner mentorship

Mike’s background across IB, PE, mutual funds, hedge funds, and nine years at Columbia, backs your story.

Interview-ready commitment

Shows you’ve invested in comprehensive, structured preparation for your PE interviews, from LBO modeling to investment judgment.

The math is simple

This might be the best investment you ever make.

PE Analyst Year 1 Total Comp
$200K-250K+
Investment
$625 one-time
ROI
350x in Year 1 alone
What’s Included

Everything you need to get interview ready

2 Lessons
PE Analyst Interview Ready: Start Here

Your roadmap to breaking into PE straight out of undergrad. Mike lays out the course sequence and what sets PE analyst interviews apart: business cases, mental math, and LBOs.

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Beginner
$50
(included)
–––
Learn More / Watch Preview Lesson
2+ Hours
25 Lessons
Accounting Fundamentals

See debits and credits flying across the screen with real-time animations. Learn how the three statements connect, not through memorization, but with easy-to-follow visual mental models.

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Beginner
$89
(included)
Learn More / Watch Preview Lesson
3+ Hours
45 Lessons
Valuation Fundamentals

Learn a first-principles based approach to Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (DCF) and how to interpret it side-by-side with valuation multiples. Navigate any variation of interview questions and explain your answers in Plain English.

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Beginner
$105
(included)
Learn More / Watch Preview Lesson
2+ Hours
25 Lessons
M&A Fundamentals

Stop memorizing corner-case scenarios for all-stock M&A deals. We give you one mental model that allows you to analyze any accretion/dilution problem in your head, no matter how the deal is funded.

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Beginner
$89
(included)
Learn More / Watch Preview Lesson
4+ Hours
62 Lessons
Accounting Deep Dive

Master the curveball topics that trip up other candidates, like lease accounting and gains & losses. We simplify confusing concepts so you can respond with absolute clarity.

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Intermediate
$105
(included)
Learn More / Watch Preview Lesson
5+ Hours
33 Lessons
LBO Modeling

Learn the ins and outs of LBO model mechanics from transaction assumptions to returns analysis using visuals that break down the trickiest concepts: sources and uses, the pro forma balance sheet, and the debt waterfall. Gain a deep, intuitive understanding of how the model actually works, giving you a perspective that is simply not taught in traditional modeling courses.

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Intermediate
$119
(included)
Learn More / Watch Preview Lesson
4+ Hours
39 Lessons
Private Equity In Real Life

Walk through a private equity deal from start to finish, the way it actually happens on the job. At every key decision point, see how both the buyer and the seller think, what each side is solving for, and what’s really being said between the lines. Show up on day one already reading deals like a seasoned pro.

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Beginner
$250
(included)
Learn More / Watch Preview Lesson
5+ Hours
46 Lessons
Business Mechanics

Master a simple, powerful framework to break down any company, determine its core drivers, and craft credible modeling assumptions. In just a few hours, gain the business judgment it usually takes 5-10 years to acquire on the job.

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Intermediate
$149
(included)
Learn More / Watch Preview Lesson
3+ Hours
46 Lessons
Excel Survival Kit

Legacy training courses bury you in 200 functions. We focus on the few that actually matter using a ‘messy data’ case study, exactly what you’ll face on the job. Visual function walkthroughs enable a deeper understanding of Excel formulas than you will find anywhere else.

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Beginner
$119
(included)
Learn More / Watch Preview Lesson
4+ Hours
35 Lessons
Financial Modeling

Master a ‘closed loop’ approach to Financial Modeling where every input flows logically through the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement. Nail down tricky concepts like working capital projections (e.g., DSO, DPO, etc.) so you understand the underlying intuition behind the model build instead of just memorizing keystrokes.

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Intermediate
$119
(included)
Learn More / Watch Preview Lesson
6+ Hours
52 Lessons
PE Analyst: Interview Fine Tuning

From Advanced Concepts to PE Case Mastery: Dive into advanced accounting, valuation and LBO concepts. Master paper LBOs, mental math and the four common PE Analyst case formats with our proprietary frameworks.

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Intermediate
$250
(included)
–––
Learn More / Watch Preview Lesson
PLUS: You Also Get
/ Blockchain Verified Certificate of Completion (add to LinkedIn)
/ Lifetime access (with $625 option)
/ All future course updates
/ Interview prep materials embedded throughout
Total Value
$1,444$892
Bundle Pricing
$625$435
Your Savings
$819$457
Enroll now
Pricing

Invest in your PE career today

Two options. Same comprehensive training. You choose what works best.

Yearly access

$435/ year

Get Yearly Access

Lifetime access

$625one-time

Best value
Get Lifetime Access
Founder Story

Learn from someone who’s worked in every major area of finance (IB/PE/HF/MF)

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survivefinance
186K followers
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Mike Kimpel
12K followers
Mike Kimpel
Founder & CEO

Hi, I'm Mike!

If you’re here, chances are you’re trying to break into high finance and build real skills that actually matter once you’re there. I know how hard that path can feel, because I’ve lived it.

I started my journey at a non-target school. I didn’t have a built-in network or a clear roadmap. I had to learn (often the hard way) what actually matters in interviews and on the desk.

Over time, I worked across investment banking, private equity, hedge funds, and mutual funds, and later began teaching as an MBA professor at Columbia. I've also spent years training professionals at leading finance firms.

What became clear to me was this: most finance training is outdated and focused on memorization, not real understanding.

I built Financeable to change that.

Financeable is the training I wish I had starting out. It’s designed to help motivated candidates prepare the right way, develop real judgment, and have an edge over anyone who uses 'traditional' Wall Street Training.

If you’re willing to put in the work, you can break into Wall Street...and Financeable is here to help you along the way.

Read more
Crafted by a tenured finance professional with experience across the full buy-side and sell-side spectrum.
Venn diagram of the IB, PE, hedge fund and mutual fund experience behind Financeable content
Financeable founder, Mike Kimpel, has trained professionals at the best finance firms in the world. He's crafted and led trainings at:
Logos of firms where Mike Kimpel has led trainings, including Evercore, Lazard, KKR, Piper Sandler, Sixth Street and more
Science-Backed Learning

You learn better when you see concepts in motion

Most finance courses teach you like it’s 1995 with static slides, audio voiceovers, and walls of text. Research shows that visuals and animations are far more effective when you’re dealing with holistic systems.

When you SEE a business as a machine, with growth, margin and capital intensity turning like gears to produce cash flow, your brain builds a mental map. You stop seeing a spreadsheet and start seeing how the business actually works. The concept sticks.

When you WATCH a $100 company rise to $125 or fall to $75, and see 50% debt turn that 25% gain into a 50% gain and that 25% loss into a 50% loss, you internalize why PE firms use leverage and what it risks. You don’t just memorize, you understand.

This isn’t just ‘pretty animations’ for the sake of design. It’s empirically-backed learning that ensures you learn faster and retain more than with other programs. And when the Principal slides a paper LBO across the table with no calculator and no Excel?

You don’t panic. You don’t freeze. You don’t fumble through memorized formulas. You see the framework in your head. And you walk through the returns with confidence.

Nested circles showing Excel Survival Kit covers the most frequently used Excel functionsIntro to M&A lesson in the Financeable player with an animated video, instructor and course outlineRigid static mental frameworks compared with flexible frameworks that adapt to each problemSell-side process slide comparing the teaser, CIM and management presentationTwo versions of a discounted cash flow analysis, a formula only and a visual timeline
Preview

See the difference for yourself

Watch sample lessons and see why students call our approach ‘unlike anything else.’

Light blue quotation mark opening a student testimonial

Before Financeable, I felt like there was a huge gap between what was taught at my university and what was actually needed for investment banking and private equity recruiting. I was able to apply concepts directly in difficult interviews with firms like Lazard Investment Banking and Roark Capital Private Equity. I genuinely felt more confident discussing industries, business models, costs, competitive advantages, and operational drivers because of Financeable.

Headshot of Anthony Do, Financeable student
Anthony Do
Full Time Analyst
Sample Lesson #1: Business Mechanics - The Framework
Sample Lesson #2: LBO Mental Model
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the PE Analyst Interview Ready bundle?
It’s Financeable’s complete prep program for undergraduates and early-career candidates recruiting for private equity analyst roles. It includes 11 courses, 40+ hours of video lessons and 3,495 practice questions, and covers accounting, valuation, M&A, LBOs, paper LBOs, mental math and PE case studies.
What does a private equity analyst do?
PE analysts support the deal team across the investment process. They screen new opportunities, read CIMs, build models and returns analyses, run diligence workstreams and draft investment committee memos. Our Private Equity In Real Life course walks through each step of a real deal, so you know where the analyst’s work fits.
How do I prepare for a private equity analyst interview?
Start with the technical foundation: accounting, valuation and how an LBO works. Then practice paper LBOs, mental math and case studies under time pressure. PE interviews also test investment judgment, so learn to evaluate whether a business is a good investment, not just a good company. This bundle follows that sequence, from Accounting Fundamentals through PE Analyst: Interview Fine Tuning.
What technical questions are asked in PE analyst interviews?
Expect three-statement accounting questions, valuation (DCF and multiples) and LBO mechanics, including sources and uses, debt paydown and returns. Many firms also give a paper LBO or a quick returns calculation to do in your head. PE interviewers also ask about value-creation levers in an LBO, the debt stack, IRR vs. MOIC and whether a business can safely support debt.
What is a paper LBO, and how do I practice it?
A paper LBO is a simplified leveraged buyout you solve with pen and paper or in your head. It tests whether you understand how purchase price, leverage, cash flow and exit multiple drive returns. The bundle teaches a four-step paper LBO method, the most common mistakes, and mental math shortcuts like the Rule of 72 and a MOIC-to-IRR grid.
What types of case studies come up in PE interviews?
Most PE cases fall into four types: market sizing, P&L, ROI and LBO. The bundle gives you a visual issue tree for each, so you can structure the problem quickly, tie qualitative points to the numbers and land on an investment recommendation. PE analyst cases usually run 15–30 minutes and rarely require building a model.
How do I get better at mental math for PE interviews?
Learn a system instead of one-off tricks. The bundle teaches three principles: get to an ‘accurate-ish’ answer first, break the problem into easy pieces, and take the path of least resistance. It adds shortcuts for percentages, fractions and compound growth, so you can estimate returns without a calculator.
Can I get into private equity straight out of undergrad?
Yes. A growing number of firms hire analysts directly from undergrad through summer analyst and full-time analyst programs. Those roles are highly competitive and usually recruited early, so solid technical prep matters. Firms with analyst programs include, but aren’t limited to, Blackstone, KKR, Insight Partners, Golden Gate Capital, Bain Capital, Warburg Pincus, Ares, GTCR, Vista Equity Partners, General Atlantic, One Rock, Summit Partners, Altamont Capital Partners, Roark, Alpine and PSG.
How is PE analyst recruiting different from investment banking recruiting?
IB interviews focus on technical knowledge and fit. PE interviews add investment judgment: paper LBOs, case studies and questions about what makes a business worth buying. Interviewers want to know how predictable a company’s growth, margins and cash flow are, because that predictability is what makes debt safe.
Is this for PE analyst or PE associate recruiting?
It’s built for PE analyst recruiting, meaning candidates going into private equity from undergrad. PE associate recruiting is for experienced bankers and consultants and usually includes full modeling tests. Analyst interviews focus more on business judgment, case studies, paper LBOs and quick math.
Do I need finance experience or a finance major to use this?
No. The bundle starts with Accounting Fundamentals and builds step by step, so students from non-finance and non-target backgrounds can follow it. If you already know the basics, use the diagnostics to test out of material you’ve mastered, or follow the fast track in Start Here.
What courses are included?
PE Analyst Interview Ready: Start Here, Accounting Fundamentals, Valuation Fundamentals, M&A Fundamentals, Accounting Deep Dive, LBO Modeling, Private Equity In Real Life, Business Mechanics, Excel Survival Kit, Financial Modeling and PE Analyst: Interview Fine Tuning.
How long does it take to complete the bundle?
There are 40+ hours of video lessons. Most students take 3–6 weeks alongside classes, but you can move faster or focus on specific courses before an interview.
What is the difference between PE Analyst Interview Ready and IB Interview Ready?
Both cover accounting, valuation, M&A and LBO technicals. PE Analyst Interview Ready adds Business Mechanics, Private Equity In Real Life, Financial Modeling, Excel Survival Kit and a PE-specific Fine Tuning course with case studies and mental math.
Who teaches the courses?
The courses are taught by Mike Kimpel, the founder and CEO of Financeable, who has worked in investment banking, private equity and hedge fund roles. He has spent 15+ years teaching 10,000+ students exactly what they need to know to master these concepts.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. The bundle includes 7 certifications, and completing courses earns a blockchain-verified certificate you can add to your LinkedIn profile.
How is Financeable different from other finance training programs?
Financeable teaches with animated visuals and mental frameworks instead of static slides and memorized answers, so you understand why each answer works. Practice questions and diagnostics follow every chapter, and Mike teaches on camera. Most programs stop at IB technicals. This bundle adds what PE firms test on top of them: business judgment, case studies, paper LBOs and mental math.
When should I start preparing for PE analyst recruiting?
Start several months before recruiting opens. For many firms, that means your freshman or early sophomore year for summer analyst roles. Building the accounting and valuation foundation first makes the LBO, paper LBO and case prep much faster later.