Zachary EpsteinFinance & data analytics

Finance & data analytics · Class of 2027

Zachary Epstein.

I’m a University at Buffalo honors student interested in credit risk, valuation, and understanding how businesses generate cash. I enjoy testing assumptions against the numbers and making a clear case for a decision.

At Wells Fargo, I built an AI-assisted workflow for quarterly credit-risk analysis. Through Fisher Family Fellows, I research small-cap companies and defend investment recommendations. Running my own resale business and founding UB’s DeFi Club taught me how to act on incomplete information, adapt quickly, and bring people into the work.

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Zachary Epstein in a blue blazer and white shirt
Zachary EpsteinNew York / Buffalo

University at Buffalo · School of Management Honors Program · May 2027

Selected work

Selected work

01 / May 2025 — PresentResearch investments
Fisher Family Fellows logo

Fisher Family Fellows

F3 equity research program · Quent Capital

Question
Which small-cap businesses offer an attractive balance of upside and downside risk?
Work
Study filings and industry data, build valuation and scenario models, and test each thesis against strategy, macro conditions, and potential synergies.
Outcome
Completed 10+ full equity research reports, including Buy recommendations on Medpace, Sezzle, and Match Group.
View research process

I present and defend recommendations to Quent Capital professionals and UB faculty mentors. Fellows produce both individual reports and collaborative deep dives when a company or investment idea warrants more work.

Zachary Epstein with the Fisher Family Fellows group
Explore Fisher Family Fellows
02 / Winter 2025–26Underwrite a business

St. John’s
Private Equity Competition

Consensus Cloud Solutions buyout analysis

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PowerPoint · Morning & final-round presentations

Question
Could Consensus Cloud Solutions support an attractive leveraged buyout?
Work
Built the integrated LBO model and interviewed the company’s CEO to pressure-test operating assumptions and investment risks.
Outcome
Advanced to the final rounds with a case underwriting a 33.8% IRR and 4.3× MOIC.
View case assumptions

Our thesis focused on recurring revenue, customer retention, cash generation, debt repayment, and exit valuation over a six-year holding period.

Experiential Learning Network Scholarship

Zachary Epstein and the University at Buffalo team presenting their buyout analysis at the St. John’s Private Equity Competition
Presenting our investment thesis01
Zachary Epstein and the University at Buffalo competition team at St. John's University
The UB competition team02
03 / Summer 2026Analyze risk

Wells Fargo · Credit Risk

Making quarterly analysis faster and more consistent.

Question
How could a recurring credit-risk review become more efficient without sacrificing rigor?
Work
Mapped the existing analysis, built repeatable validation checks, and developed an AI-assisted workflow for the quarterly process.
Outcome
Achieved an estimated 80% reduction in analysis time, improved output quality, and created a benchmark for future AI implementation in Credit Risk.
View project context

I shared the work with Credit Risk and portfolio managers, then delivered a 60-minute presentation to front-line and Corporate Risk teams. Confidential portfolio details are omitted.

04 / December 2024 — PresentBuild an organization
UB Decentralized Finance Club logo

UB
DeFi Club

Founder & Advisor · Previously President

Question
How could UB students engage directly with a fast-changing part of finance?
Work
Built the executive team, weekly program, guest-speaker series, and industry relationships from the ground up.
Outcome
Grew the club to 100+ members, secured recognition, advisors, and funding, and established active collaborations with Ava Labs and Indexify.
View club activity

We’ve hosted 10+ guest speakers, including professionals from M&T Bank, Ava Labs, Coinbase, Foundry, and OpenAI. Sessions cover digital assets and financial markets, including stablecoins, tokenization, and on-chain credit.

Zachary Epstein delivering a final presentation to a pro bono consulting client, with club members in the audience
DeFi Club on LinkedIn Final presentation to a pro bono consulting client.
Club recognition

Emerging Excellence
University at Buffalo School of Management

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Experience

Read my résumé

Mollot & Hardy

August 2026 — Present

Business Operations Intern · Wealth Advisory

Update and maintain client records in the CRM database, resolve client service and administrative issues, and troubleshoot technology problems.

Wells Fargo

Summer 2026

Credit Risk Summer Analyst

Developed an AI-assisted workflow for quarterly credit-risk analysis, improving speed and output quality. Shared the work with Credit Risk and portfolio managers; the project became a benchmark for future AI implementation.

Fisher Family Fellows (F3)

May 2025 — Present

Equity Research Analyst · F3 program at Quent Capital

Research small-cap companies. Build valuation and scenario models to assess cash-flow drivers, catalysts, and downside risk.

University at Buffalo

January — May 2026

Corporate Finance Tutor · Student-Athletes

Tutored student-athletes in corporate finance, explaining course concepts and working through problems together.

Operation Inspire

June — December 2025

M&A Analyst · Student-Led M&A Initiative

Supported the evaluation of a proposed acquisition through valuation, financial due diligence, industry research, and review of transaction risks.

Zac LLC

2019 — 2025

Founder

Built a resale business spanning sneakers, collectibles, and GPUs, later expanding into crypto mining. Managed a New Jersey warehouse, commissioned purchasing software, and adjusted inventory and capital as opportunities changed.

Education & skills

University at Buffalo
University at Buffalo School of Management logo
2023 — 2027

University
at Buffalo

B.S. Business Administration
Financial Analysis & Data Analytics

School of Management Honors Program
Expected May 2027 · GPA 3.97 / 4.0

Tools & methods

Data & analysis
Excel, Python, SQL, Power BI
Research tools
Bloomberg, Tegus
Financial modeling
DCF, comparable company analysis, LBO modeling
AI & productivity
ChatGPT, Claude, GitHub Copilot, PowerPoint
Operations
Workflow optimization, CRM data maintenance

Professional exam

FINRA Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam
Passed August 2025

Awards

First place, Target Case Competition.
First place, Delta Sigma Pi Equity Research & Trading Competition.