Post-MBA Equity Research Comp at BB

Hi all, I'm a first year student at a top-5 US MBA program and recently got an offer to join Morgan Stanley Equity Research for the summer. It is a feeder program, so ideally I would receive a full-time offer after the summer.

Comp information is very ambiguous and even the recruiter won't tell me what to expect for annual bonus ranges. Does anyone know what a Post-MBA Associate would make (all in) at an NYC BB for Equity Research? Any comp information related to career progression would be very helpful too.

Thanks!

25 Comments
 

Thanks all, this is helpful. So is the $30-$40k bonus for the full year? Or the stub bonus? I'm seeing first year associates out of undergrad getting $30K stub bonus so I'm curious.

 
Best Response

Work at a BB on a research floor, ER guys work 7-8/9 during earnings/conferences/weeks when they put out big benchmark publications, probably 8-6 outside of that.

Some firms are moving ER to lower cost centers, but that's usually more jr people/still experimental. Vast majority is still in NY. I don't think we've got anyone out in Chicago that I'm aware of. All our TMT people are here in NY as well.

 

Chicago isn't a hot spot for ER positions, but you can find opportunities at William Blair and Baird. Blair is based in Chicago, so that's where most of their ER jobs are; and Baird has a number of ER teams based out of its Chicago office.

Those two firms are probably your best bet if you have to remain in Chicago.

I used to work in ER at Baird, and it's a decent firm. Blair seems pretty good as well. Neither of which compares to a BB firm, though.

I worked ~60 hours per week at Baird - maybe slightly more during earnings season. It ultimately depends on the Sr Analyst, though, since some Associates worked closer to 80 hours per week.

Also, as an aside, I left Baird for a BB and more than doubled my compensation, so don't expect huge pay packages from either Baird or Blair.

 

@Kokanee, was your MBA from a top school? Did you have finance experience prior to the MBA? I am interested in ER but am not sure if I should get an MSF or MBA. Do you have any suggestions? I was going to PM you but don't have enough banana points. Thanks!

 

I don't think your lifestyle will dramatically differ from associates who are straight out of undergrad. Your hours will hugely depend on the analyst you work with. Working with an II-ranked analyst could mean you could work a lot OR the average amount...it's highly variable.

The first 3-4 years will probably be more difficult, and you'll probably need to start out in NYC. That being said, if you are good and the analyst trusts you, you can probably move and work from SF or Chicago (this happens at my BB). If you ultimately become an analyst, you pretty much set your own hours, which is great. I know guys who get in at 8 and leave at 6 (with the occasional longer workday).

 

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