Posts by David Soffer

The commodity trading industry has never been more competitive, and neither has the race for talent within it. As trading firms navigate an increasingly complex landscape of geopolitical risk, energy transition pressures, AI-driven market analysis, and tightening regulatory requirements, the profile of the ideal candidate has evolved significantly from even five years ago.  The days…

For a long time, the global commodities market was based on a very simple premise: supply, demand and price. If you were trading crude oil, copper, cotton or coffee, the objective was to buy the commodity as cheaply as possible and then sell it for a profit. No one wanted to know how the oil…

When you think of commodity investing, you probably think of physical resources that power our daily lives: barrels of oil, piles of copper ore, bushels of wheat or bars of gold. These commodities were just a numbers game to buy in the past. Investors used supply, demand, weather forecasts and geopolitical events to project price…

An estimated 200,000 people every day pack up their lives and move from rural villages and small towns into cities. Almost 70 per cent of the world’s population will be living in cities by the middle of this century. This great shift of humankind is one of the most powerful forces on our planet today.…

For decades the image of a successful commodity trader was very consistent. Imagine someone who talks fast, who’s on a noisy trading floor, who’s working on gut instinct and who has years of physical relationships in the market and a Rolodex of contacts around the world. These pros made multimillion-dollar decisions in a split second…

When in the world of high finance the bottom line was the only thing that mattered. If an investment made money, it was a success. But as we get into 2026, the definition of what a successful investment is has changed. The institutions that look after the wealth of very wealthy individuals and families, private…

Talent retention has become a growing issue for private banks. Firms have difficulties retaining employees with high potential. To address talent retention challenges, firms must balance increasing competition with rising client expectations. Firms need to attract high-performing employees to fill vacant positions, retain employees and create an opportunity for growth for employees. Talent retention hinges…

Breaking into private banking is not just about qualifications or technical knowledge. It is a relationship-driven industry where who you know and how you connect with them can play a significant role in opening doors. For many aspiring professionals, networking feels intimidating at first, but when approached with the right mindset, it becomes one of…

Applying for a private banking role often means competing with highly qualified candidates. Strong CVs, relevant experience and technical skills are important, but a well-written cover letter can still make a difference. It gives employers a clearer sense of your professionalism, motivation and communication style. When done properly, it can help move your application to…