Q&A: Leaving SM after four years
Had enough of the volatility in pay. Hit me with the toughest Qs you got WSO. I’m an open book.
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Had enough of the volatility in pay. Hit me with the toughest Qs you got WSO. I’m an open book.
WSO Mentor
Want to work with me? Check out my profile here.
| +32 | How much modeling do experienced HF analysts/PMs actually do? | 9 | 6m |
| +22 | Buy Side Credit - Seats / Guide | 5 | 2d |
| +13 | Hedge Fund Pivot | 3 | 1d |
| +11 | Mid-career shift to buy side with niche background | 3 | 2d |
| +9 | Wfh / work remotely at MMs or SMs? | 5 | 2d |
| 0 | Hedge funds | 1 | 2d |
Career Resources
I am at a SM now for multiple years and trying to pivot to a MMHF. Where are you going to and any advice with the pivot?
Comp progression? Are you getting pushed out?
600, 1.1, 700, this year would be 500-800
Do you wish you had done / stayed in PE instead? What do exits in your situation look like? Do you intend to leave finance?
What was your worst pitch
What career are you considering moving into?
thoughts on your own username with relation to being in the HF game
This made me lol
Currently at a MMHF. Pay has been good but the hours are very grueling. May just be the team (but ppl are nice) but I’m looking to move to a SM. Hours + always needing to churn the book getting old to me. Am I dumb?
imo chatting with DESCO MLP p72 etc it’s a very different skill set at MMs versus SMs. We aren’t squeezing alpha with pair trades or calling 3 cents of EPS based on 20 GLG calls. It’s much more 6-18 month catalysts. Only 2 of the 8 teams I interviewed with has that strategy. And both declined me lol. So now here I am floating around WSO looking for positive reinforcement.
Current jr at HYP school--I'm going to be interning at a podshop next summer but I'm more interested in the 12-18 month catalyst style investing, particularly in tech (lol). Should I try rerecruiting for PE for full time then make the SM transition, or try to find a good SM that will take me?
Can u share comp progression at the MM so far? Is there a ceiling as an analyst (if you have a sleeve)
Currently in MF PE, how do I prepare recruiting? Just a lot of pitches?
Any idea of what's next in store for you in terms of career?
And what has the comp been like over the years (and performance of the fund too)? Perhaps won't say it's enough for retiring, but would you be like taking a long vacation/break in general?
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What do you do at your SM and how volatile has comp been for you / progression?
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You work at pershing ?
This is a pretty aggressive ramp. Is it because you got PnL linkage at some point?
Was this comp profession at the MM or SM? If SM— you left that fund after making $5m (why)?
What was your comp progression at the MM?
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That’s a very good ramp. I’m surprised comp bumped so much following a down year given potential high watermark. If you don’t mind the questions: 1) How many years experience did you have before joining? 2) Do you find having no personal PnL linkage creates a culture where you have negative self selection? (Ie the best analysts leave to get paid and the worst ones stay because why not). 3) what’s the churn or how easy is it to get fired?
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Thanks for sharing, that's quite impressive. What is your expectation for the next few years. Do you see upside into 8 figs in the near future?
what does the "++" and "++-down" and "+++" mean?
is this ramp at a L/S equity fund? or is it another strategy?
How large was the fund (vey roughly)? Aside from comp volatility, what else led you to leave?
How big was your first gear guarantee lol
How do you feel about the $4.5mm guy hijacking your thread by flexing his massive comp?
jkjk - more power to you buddy and short of PM seat, you're unlikely to clear that at an MM.
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