Comparing apples and oranges

Ok, so I really am going in circles and cannot make a decision with my offers. They are so different that I am having trouble comparing them. The main factor for me is the exit opportunities and business school prospects. I think the problem I am having is both are great opportunities but mildly limiting in both factors (maybe not business school as much but I'm not sure). The offers are....

Capital Markets- Fixed Income (think Lehman/Merrill) Public Finance Investment Banking (think Goldman/Morgan)

Any advice you can give is greatly greatly appreciated. I'm at a loss right now because neither are ideal options given my interests, but how do they compare as far as business school admission and exit opportunities into PE/HF?

3 Comments
 
Best Response

I personally know people who have jumped from Public Finance Banking to PE shops of all sizes (Megafunds to little Mid-Market Funds), Top MBA programs, and IBD groups.

Top MBA programs will actually see you as a different Investment Banking candidate, since you are "helping society"...a good statement of intent goes a long way. Of course you need all the other prerequisites like solid GMAT scores, and awesome reccomendations..but that should not be a problem.

IBD and PE shops will not be the easiest jump, but if you make sure you know your valuation, accounting, and modelling like your abc's and have people from within pushing you, it should not be a problem at all.

I would not go with capital markets, but thats just because its not a personal interest of mine. I am sure there are many people who would take fixed income. Do you have any more details about placement within the Fixed Income Capital Markets (specific group maybe)?

 

The other nerveracking thing about the capital markets offer is that it is technically generalist even though i spent the summer on a fixed income trading desk. So while I will likely be in a similar role and in FID, it is not gauranteed.

The other thing I cant seem to get a firm grasp on with public finance banking is if the bonus is essentially the same at the analyst level as those in IBD/Capital Markets. It definately makes sense that earnings potential is less at the higher levels, but they maintain that bonuses will be identical to IBD per say as an analyst, does anyone know if this is generally true?

 

Vero rerum sequi et exercitationem nihil aut quisquam. Aliquam laboriosam occaecati et. Qui reiciendis autem vel recusandae. Est et unde in libero. Fugiat eos consequatur sit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (77) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (71) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”