Help. My former boss is offering my old job back
Context
2-3 years ago, I was laid off from the fund I worked for 6-7 years after undergrad. During that time, we got redemptions from our capital base and I was laid off as a result.
About the fund: The fund is nearly 15 years old now, and is small/microcap equity (mostly long) strategy. Returns have been outpaced the small/micro index since that time. The fund is today, net of new capital and performance, is nearly $75M AUM, when I joined 6-7 years ago is was about $30M. Returns have been exceptional since I got laid off, and he attracted new capital. It has a highly concentrated investor base.
For the last 2 years, I've been doing FP&A/strategic finance. However, I will most likely be out of a job in the next 6-9 months as it's being acquired by a larger company, and G&A/finance is an easy take out. I've been recruiting for new roles, but no luck so far. I've been in touch with him, so that's why this all happened. He wants me back because I did a good job there and I know the strategy down to the wire.
THe offer: $150k base + 0-200% bonus based on individual/fund performance. When I first started, it was about $100k base + 0-100%, so this is a noticeable increase. I would work 50-60 hours a week when I was there, no weekend work.
About me: Single, no kids or GF/wife, age 29-31, with no plans to ever get married/have kids. I have decent amount of savings to last 15+ years without working.
Downsides: this is the only buyside opportunity I'll ever get. Brand name goes far in this business, and I had no luck transitioning to other buyside opportunities when I was there 6-7 years. So it's this or nothing. Also, what happens to my career if it doesn’t work out? I have an awkward 2 year stint in FP&A. It was really hard recruiting from a HF background to FP&A since skills are not very transferable.
What would you do in this situation?
Take the job, I don’t understand what your other option is?
Retire and do nothing? Especially if u don’t want a wife or kids that makes no sense
This is amazing though, let me be the first to say congrats if no one else has, you get to go back to doing what u love
Would say I didn't love what I was doing...PM could be a hot head at times, and the job is stressful af
As far as other opporuntiies, I could just keep on recruiting for corporate roles?
Oh I didn’t realise you potentially preferred corporate to hedge funds, that’s my bad
Honestly I’m in college with no job so I feel like I’m not the best person to answer this, but on a rational basis, it might make sense to take the job if you are most likely going to be let go from ur current job.
And then continue recruiting for corporate, but if the culture has changed and ur PM clearly values you if he wants you back, the optionality is still there, especially since you want to continue recruiting.
But again I have no idea how recruiting for corporate jobs works or whether you even can while working at a HF
Just my thoughts
Thanks and no prob. The PM would want me to stay for the long-term, he's looking for someone who would be partner in the fund, so this isn't a quick-resume-gap filler job
“Honestly I’m in college with no job” but still goes on to give job advice
Great representation of WSO these days
.
I know this is not the point of the thread, but any color on why so certain for no wife or kids?
American divorce laws are insane?
There's so many things I want to do in my limited time on earth (continue my hobbies, traveling, etc.) , and having a kid and wife would detract from those things. I also require 8+ hours of sleep for my physical and mental health. I also can't balance my job/career with a relationship (+ kids), I suck at this immensely, sorry to say. Wife+Kids would detract me from those things.
said another way
bro gets no huzz
If you’re asking this question, you clearly don’t know my playboy Pizz right here
Out of curiosity, what do you think are the biggest advantages and drawbacks of a fund this size? I understand that beggars can’t be choosers, but do you feel that you have the necessary resources to compete with other firms in your niche? Are LP fees 2 & 20?
The question shouldn’t be what we would do in this situation. The question should be what would I want to do for the next 5 years.
1) if you had the itch to go back to the buyside over the past 2-3yrs (and still do) and could find no opportunity besides this, take this. It’s a subscale fund but base is good enough to keep adding to savings, you know the PM well. If it doesn’t workout you either follow the PM somewhere else, try to network into other roles, or go back to corporate/sell side.
2) you have no strong itch to go to the buyside and don’t want the stress that comes with it, keep recruiting for corporate roles. It’s a tough market but it sounds like you were at a good company so that should help.
3) you have 15+ yrs of saving so is there a dream/passion career you want to take a chance on? Now would be the best time to do so as you have a natural reason. If this doesn’t work, back to school or network into another corporate job
4) retire now. 15yrs of savings in the US goes a very long way in some other countries so retire only if you have another option. I don’t see how you would be comfortable holding onto your retirement savings if they’re mostly invested in this uncertain market
Congrats on the offer and good luck with the decision
PIZZ the fking legend
whatever you choose youll be fine king
it will prob be a lot easier going back to corporate because u've had a stint already, compared to that first time
your PM will definitely fk you over again - fool me once etc
but maybe you can milk 1 - 3 good years out of it
he's also hiring you back which is a top cycle/top tick signal so take that for what its worth
top cycle signal as in - he had a hot run last few years, he's obviously not acutally that good of a pm, so mean reversion means he'll blow up next 1 - 3 years
You have two questions here. Do you really want to get back on the buyside? Do you like the PM?
Assuming you want to go back to the buyside.
Do you like the PM? I mean , do you actually enjoy working with him? Do you trust him?
If yes, take it. If no, maybe take it and look to lateral to a MM if you really want to get back on the buyside. I know you didn't have much luck with this last time but you never know.
If you don't really want to get back to the buyside, don't take it and stick with corporate. Life is too short to be miserable.
People like their PMs?
@Isaiah_53_5 💎🙌💎🙌💎 need your guidance here bro
Take the HF job. You know how things work there and it is more challenging than FP&A. But, your boss could very well pull the plug on you again if the fund starts doing bad again.
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