In the high-stakes world of investment banking, most job paths go in a straight line: tough years as an analyst, then a rise up the corporate ladder.
For Matt Ting, though, the story looked different. Ting used to work in private equity but is now a digital entrepreneur and music artist. He has made a unique space for himself where finance education and creative expression meet.
Peak Frameworks, his platform, has become a go-to resource for people who want to work in finance and has helped make the hiring processes at companies like Goldman Sachs and Blackstone less mysterious.
That being said, Ting is not at all like the usual finance expert. In the day, he breaks down leveraged buyouts.
At night, he makes R&B dance music under the name “Arial Ten.” His story is an interesting example of how modern professionals can use their knowledge of an industry to build independent, multifaceted jobs.
This book is about Matt Ting’s life, career, and public image. It shows how he changed from a dedicated finance professional to an influential content creator who helps thousands of people break into the business he used to work in.
Early Life and Education
Matt Ting was born and raised in Mississauga, Canada. The late 1990s and early 2000s music and movies on the internet shaped his early years.
He says that he grew up in a “video game culture,” which shaped his digital-first business style.
In spite of his public image, he says that he is Chinese by birth but doesn’t speak the language. He jokes about this with his usual self-deprecating humor.
Academic Foundation
Ting did well in school, which set him up for future success in high finance. One of the best business schools in Canada, the Ivey Business School at Western University, is where he went to school.
Ivey, which is known for its case-based learning style, gave Ting the analytical rigor and strategic thought skills she needed to work in investment banking.
During these important years, he started to get better at organizing complicated material. His skill as a good note-taker earned him a name that would later serve as the foundation for his business.
His work in school and making connections at Ivey set him up to succeed in the tough U.S. financial markets.
Career Milestones in High Finance
Before she became a teacher, Ting was a member of the high-finance community. His resume is like a list of top financial institutions, which gives him the credibility that his education is based on now.
Investment Banking and Private Equity
Ting’s work began in the fast-paced worlds of investment banking and private equity. He worked at Evercore, a top independent investment banking advisory company, where he saw a lot of high-value mergers and acquisitions.
After that, he moved on to private equity and got jobs at Providence Equity Partners and Silver Lake Partners.
It was very important to work at Silver Lake. The company is a world leader in spending in technology, and it is known for having strict rules and being involved in big tech deals.
During his time in both New York and Silicon Valley, Ting worked with the investment groups and financial modeling teams that many would-be analysts dream of working with.
But Ting saw a big hole in the market, even though he was successful. The hiring process was kept secret, and the study materials that were provided were often out of date or wrong.
Founding Peak Frameworks
Matt Ting changed careers in 2020, going from being a practitioner to an instructor and starting Peak Frameworks.
The company grew naturally when he realized that the study guides and notes he had made for his own job search could help other people.
Solving the Recruitment Gap
Peak Frameworks was made because people were unhappy with the way things were. Ting noticed that most “influencers” in finance either didn’t want people to know who they were or gave general tips that didn’t hold up in real interviews. He did something different: he was completely honest.
He put out his real resume, the one that got him into Silver Lake, and started making content that showed what private equity interviews are really like. His business plan was based on three main areas:
- Private Equity & IB Courses: Comprehensive guides covering financial modeling, case studies, and interview strategy.
- YouTube Education: High-quality video tutorials answering career questions, from salary expectations to “day in the life” breakdowns.
- Transparency: Sharing real-world examples of what funds actually look for in candidates.
Business Growth
What began as an extra job quickly became popular. Ting got off to a bad start with a resume course that didn’t sell, but he got back on track with his Private Equity course.
He used YouTube’s formula and SEO techniques to get over 25,000 people to subscribe to the channel in just two years.
Peak Frameworks now makes a lot of money every month and has helped tens of thousands of students get jobs at top companies.
The Dual Identity: Arial Ten
The most surprising thing about Matt Ting’s background might be his work in music. He makes R&B and electronic dance songs under the name Arial Ten.
He doesn’t do music creation as a hobby; it’s something he does every day. Almost equal amounts of his time are spent running Peak Frameworks and making music.
Major companies like Warner Music and Virgin Records have put out his music, which has been streamed over 500,000 times.
Ting gets ideas for her music from acts like Daft Punk and Kaytranada. Her style combines electronic beats with indie and pop elements.
This artistic activity balances out the analytical nature of his finance work. It shows a “left brain/right brain” duality that makes him different from most business teachers.
Public Image and Recognition
Matt Ting has built a public picture that is both professional and friendly. Ting supports a balanced lifestyle, which is different from the “hustle culture” leaders that are common in the business world.
He is honest about the good things about being a solo business owner, like how it gives him the freedom to travel and explore music.
Voice of Authority
People look to Ting as an expert in the field of finance hiring. Fans of him give him high Net Promoter Scores (NPS) because he is willing to show his face and risk his professional image.
Many testimonials talk about how clear he is and how useful his models are, as they are similar to those used in real deals.
Personal Philosophy
Ting writes about “everyday philosophy” and what it’s really like to run a one-man business on his personal blog.
He says that he is “introspective and witty,” and these qualities show in the way he teaches. He is honest about his mistakes, like how his first course start didn’t work, as well as his earnings, which gives a true picture of the creator economy.
Conclusion
There is a new group of professionals like Matt Ting who don’t want to be limited to one job path. Combining the technical skills of a private equity investor with the artistic drive of a music producer, he has made a living that makes him happy and makes money at the same time.
He is a guide who gives people who want to be investors the keys to the castle. For people who write content, he shows that having deep knowledge in an area can help you make a living.
Peak Frameworks keeps getting bigger and Arial Ten keeps putting out new music, but Ting is still a great example of how to master the turn.
If you want to be like him, whether you want to be in finance or business, the lesson is clear: solving real problems is valuable, but keeping true to your many interests is what will make you last.
Hailey Mayer GoldengirlsMarketingBiz: Profile & Bio
