Advice on best way to get into investment banking
So I have two options laid out ahead of me at this point:
I'm starting next month in FDD at one of the big 4. Either I try to lateral, which will be difficult in the current market and I'll probably max get an LMM - MM pick at one of the banks.
I do a masters in Finance at a top EU university such as HEC after one year, try to get into a BB/EB IB then move into PE if possible, within EU (London preferably). I'm a french speaker too.
Thing is I can't afford a masters in finance at a top school so I don't know how effective a masters in Europe would be.
Which would be the optimal way to maximize compensation taking into account COL? I don't have an EU passport. I don't see myself living in the US in the long run to be honest.
My view is to sit tight and do well - life isn't a race. You'll get calls or can try to lateral in the meantime - I think your analysis is right though. If it's very important to you to join a BB or MF, then you might consider the risk of doing a masters, but:
1) The hiring situation might impove but it also might not;
2) Financial (and opportunity) cost of a masters which you've highlighted;
3) I wouldn't be so fixated on BB or MF as your destination. I would, for the record, go to the best brand name you can at a junior level, but they have their own problems and (as you'll read on these forums) aren't lands of milk and honey. MM is not a bad outcome (though this is subjective and it isn't for me to tell you what to think - if maximising net compensation is your only goal in life then we're on different wavelengths); and
4) Consider PE unless you hate it. I've mentioned MFs but moving to a LMM / MM fund is not uncommon (and actually quite well-precedented) among those in FDD.
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