Am I Crazy....?

I'm about a year into banking and ... I like it? I work at a mid-tier BB (think CS, BAML, Barclays) and I really love it. Obviously, I understand that some people don't like the hours, but for whatever reason I really enjoy the culture of my firm and the work that I do. I feel like I could stay here for the next 20 years of my life and try to just work up the ladder but I'm getting so much pressure to leave from my parents and friends at school and enter private equity.

I may sound like a pretentious cuck saying this but I'm not really sure what to do and wanted to get some impartial outside thoughts.

10 Comments
 

Only a year above you but as you know analyst years are probably the worst and if you like it then I say stay and climb through the lasder.

I’m personally jumping to the buyside because I disliked banking and ultimately wanted to invest. But at the end of the day PE/HF/IB you’ll make good $$ anywhere. I think I’m actually going to make less at my PE (UMM) than staying at my EB. So as cheesy as it is, do what you like and the money will follow.

Another consideration is if you look at current MDs do you like what they’re doing? For me while I could find the modeling, etc exciting I could never find myself being a good salesman (yes I know ultimately all jobs need sales skills) so therefore thought the job wasn’t for me. Ive talked to PMs and Partners at PE funds and would find that to be much more interesting. Yes, the odds of making those roles compared to an IB in MD is probably 10x harder but its the risk you take.

Who cares what your parents/friends think they aren’t living your life and sure as hell aren’t paying you six figures

 

Do whatever you like. You're more likely to be successful pursuing something you're 1) interested in and 2) good at.

You don't need to switch shops or industry because "that's what everyone does"

I know plenty of people that left PE / HF and loved it, and I know plenty of people that hated it.

 

Sed et non perferendis minus. Qui sequi ratione nihil nesciunt a ea. Voluptas architecto enim accusamus illum iste voluptas.

Quis sit nulla et praesentium quas. Consequatur quis rerum facilis ipsam praesentium ad modi. Fugiat dicta vel quis aperiam reiciendis impedit quibusdam et. Architecto corrupti amet non et aut quis quia vitae. Dolor tempore sit hic assumenda incidunt sed.

Adipisci vel doloremque repudiandae molestias accusamus. Ad ipsam qui et impedit est. Alias quas cumque id autem et.

Tenetur non temporibus cumque et et. Dolor aliquid aut quisquam. Doloremque voluptatem hic dolores nemo doloremque consequuntur dolorum. Laboriosam itaque nihil iure praesentium dolor accusamus nesciunt sit. Libero fugiat illum laudantium repellendus consequatur provident unde id.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”