Equity Research Associate to Buy Side strategies? (Canada to US)

Monkeys, I’m a few months into my third year as an ER associate in Toronto at a Big 5 Canadian bank or a Canadian BB, whatever you want to call it. I’ve decided to try jumping ship to the buy side, ideally at a SM or LO with the right investment style (very few seats, tough interviews… I know, I know). What makes it harder is that I want to move to a US based fund - reasons being much higher comp for the same work, significantly better career growth potential, bigger network pool, bigger market and obviously warmer climate. For those of you who have made the transition, how have you managed

a) How do you reach out to clients and make the ask? What if the client only has a relationship with your analyst and not you?

b) I read somewhere on WSO that some have used their sales desk’s network. How do you approach sales people with that and without raising any alarms?

c) Recruiters. I’m not on their radar since I’m not US based. What’s the best way to get their attention? I have an initial list of recruiting firms (dynamics, searchOne, CPI, SG partners) but if you know of others please let me know.

d) I work with a star analyst covering a hot sector (consistently ranked in the top 3 in the country for years). I know this matters for US analysts but would that matter at all coming from Canada? We cover mainly Canadian stocks with a fair bit of US client interest (I’d say 60-40) so not sure my analyst’s ranking carries any weight.

I have a few stock pitches prepared and have been cold emailing analysts and PMs at some funds I’m interested in but I feel like I need to hammer at this harder.