Core Insights - Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. has appointed Vien Le as Managing Director in its Public Finance Investment Banking Group, based in Los Angeles [1][2] - Le brings over 20 years of municipal finance experience, focusing on California and supporting clients in the West, including Oregon and Washington [2][3] - The addition of Le is expected to enhance Oppenheimer's capabilities and momentum in the public finance sector on the West Coast [3][5] Company Overview - Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. provides a comprehensive range of wealth management, securities brokerage, and investment banking services to high-net-worth individuals, families, corporate executives, businesses, and institutions [5]

Core Viewpoint - Piper Sandler Companies is positioned for strong top-line growth due to its exposure to both structural and cyclical growth sectors within investment banking, with Goldman Sachs upgrading its rating to Buy and setting a price target of $386, indicating an 18% upside from recent trading levels [1]. Group 1: Revenue Growth Projections - Goldman Sachs projects a 12.5% revenue CAGR through 2027, which is approximately 200 basis points above its peers, driven by leadership in mid-cap M&A, financials, capital markets, tech M&A, and municipal finance, alongside stable margins and limited compensation leverage [2]. - The firm's M&A backlog has increased by about 110% since early 2024, significantly outperforming peer growth [3]. Group 2: Sector-Specific Insights - Piper Sandler's strong position in mid-cap M&A, which constitutes 65% of its fees since 2019, is notably higher than the group average of 48% [3]. - The firm is well-positioned to benefit from a rebound in financial sector activity, with global bank M&A expected to more than double its 10-year average in 2025 and U.S. bank M&A projected to rise by about 70% [5]. - Continued momentum in financials M&A and debt capital markets is anticipated, supported by potential deregulation and lower unrealized losses on bank balance sheets as interest rates decline, with Goldman estimating a 6-12% revenue and 10-18% EPS upside if the segment normalizes [6]. Group 3: Technology and Municipal Finance Growth - Piper Sandler's investment in the technology sector, which is the largest source of M&A fees, is a key growth driver, with expectations for further investments to enhance competitive positioning [7]. - The municipal finance business is expected to experience cyclical growth as interest rates decline, with Goldman projecting a 14% annual increase in muni finance revenue from 2024 to 2027, alongside specific revenue forecasts of $1.75 billion in 2025 and $1.99 billion in 2026 [8].

Market Dynamics - A small investor is challenging larger asset managers' aggressive strategies in the municipal finance sector [1] Investment & Risk - The shift indicates corporate bond tactics are entering the typically stable municipal finance market, potentially increasing risk [1]

Industry Talent Gap & Succession Planning - Filling financial operation roles in state and local governments is difficult, highlighting a talent gap [1] - Fewer than half of governments have concrete succession plans, despite acknowledging its importance [2] - The industry aims to address the talent gap by connecting students with industry leaders and showcasing opportunities [6] Course & Student Demographics - The course aims to feed the talent pipeline in the municipal finance market [2] - Students come from both government/public policy and finance backgrounds [3] - Students include former public school teachers, military veterans, and individuals with prior finance or consulting experience [4] Industry Engagement & Partnerships - The Harris School's Center for Municipal Finance is positioned to scale up the market through research, industry engagement, and skill building [5] - Key industry partners include Hilltop Securities, Loop Capital, PTA Financial Solutions, and Cabrera Capital [5] Career Paths - Graduates work in state and local government, rating agencies, underwriting firms, and on the buy side [7]