Brandes Investment Partners - Reputation and exit opps?
What's the deal with Brandes Investment Partners in San Diego? Anybody knowing anything about their reputation, exit opps, people, etc. ? Heard its a great group, but the pay is on the low side.
Very solid value team. However recently their funds have hugely underperformed (down 40% + on the year). They're not looking like value anymore. Reputation is solid in the field. Exit opps, depends on the track...research im assuming? 5 year program. More of a laid back culture, awesome office in san diego but can feel a touch on the nerdy side. More of the engineering types.
Pay is lower than "analyst" pay significantly (this was last year) and Im not sure about this year. Given performance and mass redemptions, im assuming same?
Good firm though.
(not that engineering types are nerdy)
Thanks, I appreciate it. The pay is definitely on the lower side, especially given the cost of living there. Salary is street but the signing and performance bonus are quite low.
Could you expand on the exit opps? I'm looking at the 4 year research associate program (equivalent to an analyst position elsewhere). Are they placing people in good hedge funds and P/E shops? What about business school placement?
It seems like the real value they offer to recruits is their name brand and rep, not pay. I definitely liked the people and city.
thanks for all the insight guys. models you said the pay is definitely on the lower side. can you or anyone else quantify that? I'm an undergrad and have an interview with them next week. thanks.
They reduced it to 4 years? From what I know (which isnt too much) about them, the research people go back to school for grad programs. Mostly non-mba. Msc in financial engineering, other engineering etc... They did say a few went on to mba but given the highly quantitative nature of the firm, they either did msc or went the cfa track and on to other funds. If you go down this path, im assuming you will end up in portfolio management for a mutual fund, investment manager etc...
Dont know about p/e or hedge funds. Im sure you could aim for value hedge funds. Name is defenitely solid in the field.
This makes no sense. Brandes is a value investing firm, not a quant one. No reason for their associates to go onto non-mba masters programs. You're deeply mistaken here.
Not that it's a bad town to live in (downtown to beach in minutes) but I've heard from people who spent 2-3 years there that there's not much more to do after a while (they move to LA at that point).
Related to the pay, I'd figure it's not that much lower than market for a mid-sized AM.
Exit-opps: most likely research analyst at some level in a HF or bigger AM. Right now whole IB ER divisions are getting let go so you may see a glut in the supply for those jobs.
I have various friends that live in LA and they all consistently say go to San Diego. Guess the grass is always greener on the other side.
What do you think the average pay is at a mid-sized AM firm? I'm still deciding on whether I should take the Brandes offer.
Also, do you think I should worry about their stability? Their funds have definitely taken a hit lately.
45k? around there without sign on bonus + overtime you might close 50+ then you have generous benefits, time off etc...
Stability, im sure theyll be ok, downsize maybe in the short term but I doubt theyve been reckless in the past with over hiring. So you shouldnt worry but dont take my word for it, in this environment, all is possible.
Their funds are performing pretty badly. -65% YTD on the LCV. I doubt the rest of the funds are doing better.
LA > SD -> again personal choice so visit both and see where you prefer to be.
I will say that Brandes' compensation is significantly higher then that. I don't think anybody pays that low for top tier candidates (all the candidates I saw were definitely from top tier schools).
LAWM - do you know how the rest of their funds are doing? I've been trying to dig around and find some info, but I'm not having much luck.
You'd be surprised (about the comp).
If you look at their site, you'll see some of the individual investor funds. Those provided to clients via advisors are slightly different. I don't have a list on me right now but I can pm you some of the stats.
hi LAWM, you seem to know quite a bit about the firm. As such, i was wondering if you knew 45k to be a fact or an estimate? Also, would you happen to know any info on second round interviews? I am interviewing with them soon and would appreciate any help. Thanks!
The compensation (salary and bonus) is about 80k for the first year and increases 0-10k per year thereafter depending upon individual and firm performance.
Thanks models_and_bottles. the compensation you mention does not seem low on any measure for a college graduate (I am assuming you are referring to the Research Associate position?) May I ask if you know this 80k figure to be a fact or an estimate?
Also, have you interviewed with them? can you provide any advice on second-round interviews? I am interview with them very soon.
Thanks a bunch!
Consider the 80k figure quite reliable.
The 45k figure is either seriously outdated, bogus, or for some back office position. No legitimate investment management firm is paying quality research talent that low. Do you think that these firms would really pull from top undergrad business schools at comp that low? Even accounting pays better than that.
Several Things to Clarify Here: 1.) Pay starts at $60k base for research associates. Bonus potential of up to 20% (approximately half will be deferred until the end of your 4th year with the firm) of base for the first year. Profit sharing kicks in after your first year with the firm, and is worth effectively 3% of bonus+base each year. As you can tell, there is relatively little differential in pay between the best performers in the RA program and the weakest performers. 2.) Hours are good. 8-6 at the most. Also 15 days off per year, and it is expected that you will take all of them. 3.) Few if anyone from the firm goes on to do quantitative analysis. Just look at the profiles of the senior people there, all MBA's. It is a highly contrarian shop (I wouldn't call it graham and dodd per se, despite their marketing), but focus is on looking at K's and Q's rather than onsite visits or speaking with industry consultants. 4.) You will build no substantial contacts outside of the firm in the RA position. You will however sit in on company management meetings and sell side meetings to the extent the person you work for likes to participate in these types of events. 5.) Many people who stay on the whole four years here feel burnt out their last 12-24 months, but feel handcuffed to stay due to their deferred compensation after 2 years with the firm.
bump, thoughts as of current time?
bump. also interested
Awesome job, but the firm's AUM has declined a lot so there are stability concerns.
Still a good place to be. Their AUM is currently sitting around $13~14bn. For approach, they are as deep value as you can get, similar to Templeton in style. Focus outside of the US seems to have picked up in LATAM & the Middle East.
Brandes' AUM is $26bn (as of quarter end), not $13bn. The focus hasn't changed at all, the EM product has just performed much better than the other products.
Wow! Is Brandes really down to $26?! I think they were running 80-100b when I was looking at them six or seven years ago. They're a great shop and seemed to have a very good process (although I'm not sold on committee style investing). I'd also recommend people take a look at Causeway Capital in Santa Monica if they're interested in international value.
Yep, AUM took a big fall because performance was crappy in '08 and '09 and the sales side was in bad shape because the firm was closed to new money for quite awhile. Net flows only stabilized this year.
Brandes Investment Partners - Shed some light? (Originally Posted: 10/25/2012)
Can anyone shed some color on Brandes down in San Diego?
Salary Hours Exit Opps
Seems like one of the few buyside shops that hires undergrads.
Hours are very good. Exit opps are generally b-school or going to another buyside shop. You can look up the comp info on glassdoor.
you have an offer?
Let's just say I'm familiar with the situation.
Brandes Investment Partners - More color on Brandes? (Originally Posted: 11/12/2012)
Can anyone provide more color on Brandes?
comp hours exit opportunities
32 billion under management, based in San Diego, seems like a pretty good gig to me. lots of ex. wharton guys there..
Culturally it seems like they get guys who stay for quite awhile. Longer internships before junior level employment. Rarely do they hire anyone off of the street that hasn't been there for an internship, or so I was told by someone I spoke with there several years ago. According to him, it takes them about 5 years just to get you to where they want you to be thought-wise.
This only applies to the analyst / Post MBA position, which Brandes isn't hiring for (although you are correct).
The RA role is a pretty good gig. You can look up the comp info on glassdoor. Hours are great. The only concern is the long term stability of the firm.
Yah, I heard the program lasts about 4 years in length as well. So I guess most kids go straight to get their MBA or just stay with the firm.
I definitely think they are talented value managers. They pay below street, but you get to live in SD...(and who cares about entry level comp). Not sure about exit ops - I think you would have an easier time moving to another long only AM (eg Capital Group), but I think I have seen a few HF guys with the Brandes name on their linked in profiles.
I always assumed you were at Brandes.
I assume with brandes, getting into a top 5 mba program will almost be a guarantee. From there you can leverage the name brand and experience to recruit for long-only IM and long-short equity hedge funds.
No, I don't think that's the case at all actually.
What other value shops would you compare to Brandes? In terms of brand name, exit opps.
Would they compare to a place like Dodge & Cox..maybe?
Not exactly. Dodge & Cox has a fairly unique culture/process.
I would say they compare more closely to places like Long Leaf partners and Harris & Associates. Maybe Third Avenue, but they are fairly distinct as well.
I really wouldn't go in thinking about exit opps. You should like value investing, and be interested in long only management.
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