BlackRock's exclusive tech group — Top buyout bankers — JPM's racial-equity push

Welcome to Insider Finance. If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Plus, download Insider's app for news on the go – click here for iOS and here for Android.

On the agenda today:

• BlackRock has selected four engineers for its exclusive internal tech fellowship.
• We've made a list of the top bankers behind the "golden age" of mega buyouts.
• JPMorgan is investing $100 million into Black and Hispanic banks.

Let's get started. 

BlackRock taps four engineers for its tech fellowship

Out of 4,500 technologists, BlackRock named just four senior engineers to participate in the ultra-exclusive internal tech fellowship, which is aimed at encouraging a tech-first culture and promoting the best talent. Here's who they picked — and why.

Meet the bankers behind the "golden age" of mega buyouts

Raising below-investment-grade debt for deals has morphed into a $3 trillion business, attracting upstarts, like KKR, to compete for business alongside stalwarts like Goldman Sachs. We rounded up eight top leveraged finance bankers, from the disrupters to the entrenched. Meet them here.

JPMorgan's racial-equity push continues

JPMorgan is building on last year's $30 billion pledge to address racial injustice — this time, by investing more than $100 million into Black and Hispanic banks. The banks will use the capital to hire staff, invest in technology, and attract new customers in historically underserved communities, the firm said. More on JPMorgan's most recent push for racial equity.

Bill Gross found guilty of contempt

Billionaire bond investor Bill Gross and his wife Amy were found guilty of violating a temporary restraining order, the latest in a months-long legal feud with their neighbors. Get the latest updates about the quarrel, which began last year over a $1 million outdoor sculpture.

Inside Morgan Stanley's family wealth director training course

Each year, about 100 Morgan Stanley advisors take a course to earn the family wealth director title. The program, which will let advisors work with super-rich clients, takes 150 hours and has a 40% failure rate — but that's the point. Executives described the course, and shared an example of a case study they stump advisors with.

Automation could kill off 100,000 banking jobs

According to Wells Fargo's managing director, Mike Mayo, automation could cut as many as 100,000 banking jobs over the next five years. In an interview with Bloomberg, Mayo explains what roles could be lost in the "swap to bots from bankers."

The asset-manager M&A frenzy is kicking into overdrive

The asset-manager M&A hot streak is far from over — and a big deal could be next, according to JPMorgan's asset-management CEO. George Gatch said "some large mergers of equals" could be on the horizon. Here's what else he said.

On our radar:

• A finance influencer with 1.7 million TikTok followers breaks down the three key components of her investing philosophy.
• Google has abandoned its plans to offer bank accounts to its users, WSJ reports. Why it scrapped its financial ambitions.
• According to Reuters, PwC announced it will let all of its US employees work remotely. Get the rundown here. 

Wait! Don't leave just yet. Before you go, take a look at our crossword. We're publishing new puzzles through Oct. 8. Solve today's here.