Zachary EpsteinFinance & Data AnalyticsRésumé

UB School of Management Honors Program · 3.97 GPA · Class of 2027

Zachary Epstein

Portrait of Zachary Epstein

My interest in finance started with running Zac LLC: buying inventory, setting prices, and deciding where to invest as markets changed.

At the University at Buffalo, I study financial analysis and data analytics. I’m interested in what makes a business durable, where its risks lie, and how technology can change it. That curiosity connects my work in equity research, LBO modeling, credit risk at Wells Fargo, and building UB’s DeFi Club.

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Selected work

St. John’s Private Equity Competition · Dec 2025 to Feb 2026

Consensus Cloud Solutions

Leveraged buyout case · Finalist team

Could recurring cash flow support a buyout and a healthcare growth plan?

Zachary and the UB team presenting their buyout case at St. John’s

Zachary and the UB team presenting their buyout case at St. John’s

Presenting our investment thesisMeet the team

The University at Buffalo team at St. John’s Private Equity Competition

I built the integrated LBO model and interviewed the company’s CEO to test the operating assumptions behind our investment thesis.

Our team advanced to the final rounds with a buyout case underwriting modeled returns of 33.8% IRR and 4.3× MOIC.

Our thesis paired recurring revenue and strong customer retention with a plan to expand healthcare sales. The key execution question was whether a larger sales team could generate enough growth to justify the investment.

Investment thesis and model

Secure communication matters in regulated healthcare settings. We examined how that need, customer retention, and increasing customer spending supported the revenue base and our proposed sales investment.

My integrated LBO model connected operating assumptions, financing, debt repayment, and exit valuation over a six-year holding period. Sensitivity tables tested the returns against the exit multiple, purchase premium, revenue growth, SOFR, and credit spread.

The stated IRR and MOIC are modeled case outputs, not realized investment performance.

View the slides PowerPoint, 13.8 MB

PDF · 1.7 MB · Morning and final-round presentations

Competition
20 universities · Finalist team
My work
Integrated LBO model and CEO interview
Analysis
Operating scenarios, debt repayment, and exit sensitivities
Recognition
UB Experiential Learning Network Scholarship for our team

Wells Fargo · Summer 2026

How could we reduce manual analysis while keeping the review reliable?

I analyzed credit-loss forecasts, identified risk drivers and data gaps, and rebuilt the quarterly analysis around repeatable validation checks and an AI-assisted workflow.

The workflow reduced analysis time by an estimated 80%, improved output quality, and became a benchmark for future AI implementation in Credit Risk.

I presented the work in a 60-minute session for front-line and Corporate Risk teams and shared it with Credit Risk and portfolio managers. Confidential portfolio details are omitted.

Location
Charlotte, NC
Dates
June to August 2026
Audience
About 70 invited stakeholders across front-line and Corporate Risk teams

Fisher Family Fellows · May 2025 to present

What makes the investment thesis compelling, and what could undermine it?

Zachary with the Fisher Family Fellows group

Zachary with the Fisher Family Fellows group

With the Fisher Family Fellows

I research company filings and industry data, build valuation and scenario models, and develop investment theses. The analysis connects cash-flow drivers with company strategy, macro conditions, catalysts, and potential synergies.

I’ve completed 10+ full equity research reports, including Buy recommendations on Medpace, Sezzle, and Match Group.

I present and defend recommendations to Quent Capital professionals and UB faculty mentors.

How we develop a recommendation

The research starts with how a business makes money and what could change its earnings or cash flow. I assess the thesis alongside valuation and downside scenarios, then present the recommendation for discussion.

We write individual reports and collaborative deep dives. The collaborative work gives us a way to compare assumptions, challenge a thesis, and investigate a company beyond the initial recommendation.

About the F3 program
Companies
Medpace, Sezzle, Match Group, Gap, Ranpak
Tools
Company filings, Bloomberg, Tegus, Excel, Python
Format
Individual reports and team deep dives

University at Buffalo · Founded December 2024

Zachary presenting to a pro bono consulting client with club members in the audience

Zachary presenting to a pro bono consulting client with club members in the audience

A final presentation to a pro bono consulting client

I founded UB’s first decentralized finance organization and built its executive team, weekly program, and guest-speaker series.

The club grew to 100+ members, secured university recognition, advisors, and funding, and established active collaborations with Ava Labs and Indexify.

We’ve hosted 10+ guest speakers, bringing students into discussions about stablecoins, tokenization, on-chain credit, and financial markets.

DeFi Club on LinkedIn
Guest speakers
Professionals from M&T Bank, Coinbase, Foundry, Ava Labs, and OpenAI
Collaborations
Active collaborations with Ava Labs and Indexify
Recognition
Emerging Excellence and UMA Innovative New Club awards · View the award

Zac LLC · Founder · 2019 to 2025

From resale to crypto mining

I ran Zac LLC for six years, taking responsibility for sourcing, pricing, inventory, and day-to-day operations. The business began in sneakers and streetwear and expanded into collectibles, GPUs, and crypto mining as market opportunities changed.

Inventory and pricing

I made buying and pricing decisions across sneakers, streetwear, sports cards, and other collectibles, adjusting inventory and deciding where to reinvest as demand changed.

Warehouse and software

I personally managed a New Jersey warehouse and commissioned freelance developers to build purchasing software, coordinating the requirements and development work.

Adapting to the market

I moved into GPU resale and crypto mining before Ethereum’s transition to proof of stake. As opportunities across resale and mining narrowed, I closed the business in 2025.

Experience

Full résumé

  1. Wells Fargo

    Jun to Aug 2026

    Credit Risk Summer Analyst

    Analyzed credit-loss forecasts and developed a repeatable workflow for quarterly credit-risk reviews. Case study

  2. Zac LLC

    2019 to 2025

    Founder

    Ran a resale business for six years, managing inventory, pricing, a New Jersey warehouse, and freelance software development as the business expanded into GPUs and crypto mining. Case study

  3. Operation Inspire

    Jun to Dec 2025

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

    Supported valuation and financial due diligence for a proposed acquisition with about $100 million in enterprise value, assessing transaction risks for investment-committee discussions.

  4. Fisher Family Fellows

    May 2025 to present

    Equity Research Analyst · F3 program at Quent Capital

    Develop investment theses, build valuation models, and present recommendations on small-cap companies. Case study

  5. Mollot & Hardy

    Aug 2026 to present

    Business Operations Intern · Wealth Advisory

    Maintain CRM records, resolve client-service and administrative issues, and troubleshoot technology problems.

  6. University at Buffalo

    Jan to May 2026

    Corporate Finance Tutor · Student-Athletes

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

  7. Decentralized Finance Club

    Dec 2024 to present

    Founder & Advisor · Previously President

    Built the executive team, weekly program, and industry relationships for UB’s first DeFi club. Case study

Education & skills

University at Buffalo School of Management

B.S. Business Administration

Financial Analysis & Data Analytics

School of Management Honors Program

Cumulative GPA
3.97 / 4.0
Graduation
May 2027

Tools & methods

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

Credentials & recognition

  • Securities Industry Essentials (SIE)

    Passed August 2025

  • Target Case Competition

    First place among 30 students · Spring 2026

  • Delta Sigma Pi Equity Research & Trading Competition

    First place among 120 participants

  • Experiential Learning Network Scholarship

    Awarded to our St. John’s competition team

Outside work

Live music

I’m a fan of rock and roll. Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden is still my favorite concert memory.

New cities

My favorite way to see a new city is on foot, with a few places in mind and room to get sidetracked. Berlin, Chicago, and Athens are cities I’d happily revisit.

Training & trails

I’m training for a half marathon and building a list of hikes I want to do, from easy weekend trails to a few that will take more preparation.

Movies & downtime

Movie critic, in the least official sense of the word. The rest of my downtime usually involves friends, the gym, or a Bills game.