Private Bank to Discretionary Macro – What’s the Path?

Hi all – I’m heading into a summer internship at JPM Private Bank (desk that does PM for HF and PE clients) but my long-term goal is a discretionary global macro seat (rates, FX, cross-asset) that isn’t purely quant.
 

I’d love perspective on:
 

  • Common paths from PB to a macro HF or multi-asset AM team.
  • Whether to aim first for sell-side macro strategy or jump straight to a fund.
  • How to network and time recruiting for multi-manager platforms (Brevan, Citadel GFI, Millennium, Balyasny, Point72) and classic macro shops (Tudor, Caxton, Rokos, Graham, Element).
  • Long-only or multi-asset teams (BlackRock, PIMCO, Wellington, Fidelity, GSAM) that could be a good stepping stone.
  • Skills or projects I should focus on during the internship to make the move.
     

Would appreciate any advice from people who’ve made a similar transition. Thanks!

10 Comments
 

JPM even though a bigger bank, you aren't doing what you want to do. Private banking doesnt have anything to do with macro. HSBC even if it is trash, you were trading (could have been on rates/fx desk). You could move to JPM trading after a couple years then to macro.

 

As harsh as this sounds, there isn't really a path of Private Banking to discretionary global macro. Discretionary global macro has very, very few seats left. The bulk of it is systematic/quantitative. 

Long-only isn't going to help either. The skills are not transferrable. You're best bet would be to find a way to a rates/FX/relevant desk on the S&T side asap if that's even possible. 

 

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