Equity strategy career path - good to join as junior?

Hi all Have quick question on equity strategy. Am interviewing as associate to chief regional strategist (2-3 yrs exp in sector specific research roles before). - what's the typical career path and where do ppl end up after a few yrs in equity strategy? - do you need a quant degree to do well? Many thanks.

7 Comments
 

I did equity research and M&A before. Also wrote two theses, one on a stock market strategy. Overall, I don't think M&A really was that much of a prerequisite though. In the team I worked in, people who had previously joined were mostly from equity research or actually macro research (ie working as an Economist).

 

I also know a guy that went from product management to trading to equity strat. I think if you can check the successful trader box, you should be good in a lot of cases.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

Does anyone get into equity strategy straight out of undergrad as their first job? Not to give too much away, but I have the unique opportunity to start on that path this summer and thinking about career as strategist. Is ER or trading beforehand necessary? Should I opt for trading next summer instead?

-- I have deleted this account (or tried). If there is somehow posts still occuring, it is not from the original account holder.
 

Yes, that can happen. ER is helpful, but I really don't see why you would need trading. Trading doesn't have that much in common with investing, which is pretty much what equity strategy does. It makes a lot more sense the other way around, as you then understand how something might affect the markets and when to maybe take a proprietary position. If you have the option to go into it and want to do it, then go ahead. Nothing's stopping you. You can always try trading later on, although I wouldn't wait too long. Most people who go into trading join at a young(er) age.

 

Tempora autem provident eos sit dolore molestias. Sint nihil sit dolorem qui numquam saepe. Fuga est sunt nulla nihil quam libero. Hic sit tempora veritatis enim voluptate neque ab.

Libero qui quaerat sapiente eligendi saepe ea quia. Beatae illum velit nulla asperiores. Modi nihil reprehenderit laboriosam consectetur asperiores et. Sint atque qui nam cupiditate. Excepturi porro quibusdam voluptas et consectetur doloribus quas. Et rerum aut incidunt enim minima temporibus. Excepturi explicabo praesentium ullam molestias nam.

-- I have deleted this account (or tried). If there is somehow posts still occuring, it is not from the original account holder.

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 (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (72) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”