27 Year Old Analyst

depending on how much experience you have in bval and accounting you can prob go in as an associate. seems like you have 4-5 years of exp. i don’t see why associate isn’t in the cards (more money :) and you skipped the analyst BS). but to your point i have seen analysts at that stage as well just at smaller boutiques or mm.

Know multiple analysts who came in at 26/27 at top tier places and wasnt an issue at all. Not much explaining is necessary since I t’s clear why people are willing to trade off a few years of prior experience for a switch to banking that opens the door to a better opportunity set.

Would also argue that coming in as an analyst is a better move for your longer term career anyway, despite the money. The analyst skillset will teach you how to do everything from the ground up and make you stronger technically than starting as an associate would - and is recognized as such. There’s a reason Buyside usually take analysts (as opposed to focusing on recruiting associates) and MBA associates get ripped on so much on this forum.

If the work seems like it's going to be interesting to you and the comp is better than what you pull now, take it.

-It isn't that uncommon. Plenty of military people come in mid/late 20s
-In two years (maybe less) you'll be an associate and about the same age (in many cases still younger) than a decent percentage of the MBAs that will then be your peers
-Your skillset with accounting, valuations, and IB will be excellent
-You'll position yourself for exits that won't be available to you if you stay where you are, and the ones you have or would have now won't go away

28year old analyst here. Go for it

Coming in at 25 myself. Good luck!

Starting as an AN1 at top 3 IB this summer at 27 yo, age has never been a question :)

You guys are legends - thank y'all very much! Best of luck, and keep crushing it!

On a similar topic, I am about to start a position as a Senior Credit Analyst at 25. In a year or two if I want to move into IB would it be better to try to be a analyst or a associate? 

I am also doing my MBA online at night and it should be completed by the end of the year. 

I don’t think it matters. I graduated college @ 23 and did 2 years in ABL @ BB and move to loan syndication for 1 year. End up as second year analyst @ 26. My MD back in loan syndication was 31-32, his dad was a CEO/founder of telecom company, easily tens of millions net worth. On the other hand, my parents was immigrants making little over minimum wage. I started as a teller @ 18 and worked in retail banking throughout college, and the people I meant never made it out of retail.

26 yr old 2nd yr analyst at a BB - go for it man! totally worth it.