Deciding between two 2024 offers (BB vs. LO AM)

Currently a sophomore with 2 internship offers for next summer, one is at a LO AM (Fidelity) in equity research and another is at JPM in global markets/research. Not sure what the difference is between starting on the buy-side vs sell-side for research. JPM pays twice as much per hour (although salary isn't the most important) but I have just a week to sign so I'm feeling under pressure. I'd appreciate any advice/thoughts, thanks so much

21 Comments
 

Personally, I would do JPM. Although both are great firms, JPM has a better reputation and would provide more exit opportunities in the future if you decide. Quite a few of the PMs and head traders at Fidelity who I know started out at GS, JPM, etc, got a few years of experience, and then moved to Fidelity.

 

It’s an internship so I wouldn’t say you are staring on either side. It’s just a few months of early career exposure. I would take JPM over Fidelity. Better firm. 

Like the unadjusted- only with a little bit extra.
 

Ignore title - go Fidelity all the way. It isn't even close. Unless you want to pivot to IB, which might be easier since you could be sell-side at the BB, Fidelity wins hands-down at everything else. People mention exit opps might be better at the BB, but I certainly beg to differ. Your position at Fidelity will open so many more doors for you that you would only dream about at the SS spot. 

 

Take the Fidelity offer. i believe JPM has a part time ER internship program during the fall/spring semester so you could try and do that as well 

 

Echo above. Unless there are specific attributes of SS research that really speak to you (i.e. you enjoy client facing, you enjoy seeing reports published with your name on it) otherwise buyside all the way. You are not spending time doing tedious work that are outsourced from the buy side to the sell side. There is also much more focus on intellectual honesty.

One thing to definitely consider though is if the FMR role has a very low prob of converting to full time, and if that's the case, what is your risk tolerance given your passion for investing.

 

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