Apr 28, 2023

Is a role in IG Credit at a top LO a good start?

Would an research role in IG at a large AUM top asset manager be good for future options exiting to HY or other IG roles and how is career lens from a long term industry and personal trajectory, alpha opportunity, and comp?

Thanks so much i know this is loaded 

5 Comments
 

IG is credit...but kinda a different game. A lot less business value bottoms up driven than HY. That said, if you're right out of school, its still a good place to learn. My guess would be that the sooner you make the jump the easier it will be - say 1-2 years into the role. Who knows maybe you will enjoy it and will want to progress. However, its a pretty easy story to tell as to why you'd want to switch. 

 

thanks so much for the reply. Do you think theres potential for alpha generation and generally comparable comp to HY as an IG Research Analyst?

 
Most Helpful

I don't enough about IG. Of course, I'm sure there are more active IG managers that strive to beat the index vs more index chasers. As far as work product is concerned, I don't know enough about the IG process, but I'd imagine its less credit intensive (ie less digging into the business, sector, financials, valuations, etc) than HY by virtual of it being so "safe" for lack of better terms. I believe, though not 100% certain, but IG with longer dated maturities and more liquid markets, has a lot more relative valuation analysis - ie trading bonds over yield differences. Anyway, assuming this is your first job or two, you're really just learning anyway so seems like a good place to start. Once you build a foundation of what you like and don't like you can always try to pivot to something else, which is always easier earlier in your career. 

 

Agree with ke18sb. IG is a relative value game and trades for various reasons / drivers which are more industry / macro related v s HY which is more idiosyncratic. IG offers less alpha as it's a more liquid hence "efficient" market (eg in IG there's basically no re-fi risk). 

It's a good stepping stone in the industry absent other alternatives to learn about credit concepts but unless you are at a large AM which operates n both markets, it would not be easy to change firm and product.

 

Veritatis consequatur et at fuga. Et et sit placeat vero. Est ullam eius eum quia sint consequuntur. Aut libero inventore porro corporis.

Eius quis qui ipsam officiis consequatur recusandae. Facilis maiores quos soluta doloribus. Odit quia consequuntur eius sed quas inventore voluptatem voluptatum.

Ipsa aut quasi dolores exercitationem. Quas qui voluptas ut. Quas dolorem perspiciatis dolor vitae hic. Dolore minima consequuntur sed modi dicta earum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (17) $409
  • Associates (58) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”