Associate Lateral from WF Worth it?
I’m currently in a top group at WF and contemplating lateraling to a top MM, think Blair/Baird/HL. Does this move seem worth it as an associate if I’m not sure I want to do banking long term? Would my exit ops be different?
MBA associate or A2A? Also, what are the long-term goals? If unsure, stick around and figure that out before jumping ship.
Mba associate. Thinking of making the jump to change cities. Long term goals are to either be a public markets investor or do corp strat or biz dev of some sort
Ok. in my opinion at the associate level, you will have similar exit opps to the other firms you listed. It may be worth looking at a GS/MS/JPM though as those positions may focus more on the prestige factor. I have seen many people move to these firms from WF.
I've seen post MBA WF bankers lateral to those type of banks. Up to you, I can imagine a career at any of these banks (including WF) is possible. Unsure about possible variation in exits at the associate level and beyond though.
It would help if you were to tell us why you’re considering moving. Looks like you mentioned changing cities, if that’s the case then go for it. I used to work at WF and left for a “higher tier” (cringe) bank and I don’t think it really changes your exit ops at the associate level. I actually miss working there.
Interesting. What exit ops are you looking at?
As of now I’m looking to stay in banking longer term…hard to walk away from the money.
Sounds like everyone at WF enjoys working at WF. Hear that often
I feel like as always, dependent on the group, it’s a pretty good place to be for an associate. WLB is kind of manageable and I thought the pay was fair and at times more than my friends at other higher ranked banks. I always thought that analysts should go to the best firm they can to line themselves up for the future but for associates I think it’s more about where you actually want to work.
That’s highly dependent on getting the city and/or a desirable group of choice.
Can you elaborate on what you miss post having made the move to a stronger platform? Considering a similar move but concerned about the grass is greener mentality and potentially regretting it.
The people mostly, less hardos at a place like wells than some other firms.
Don't have anything to add but do you have any input on WF tech group in nyc? Things like culture, wlb, pay, etc
There is no tech group in NYC
Yes there is. Tmt is out of nyc, clt, and sf. I think they work quite a bit.
Those are kind of a side grade. I would probably only consider Blair of those listed, and then only if you're in a secondary market that you like and want to stay in (i.e. Charlotte). Wells has a ton of lateral attrition but it's mostly people jumping to bulges and EBs for the brand upgrade. If you're happy with your group and location Wells is a solid place to ride out a career in banking.
I'm at one of those banks, and it really depends on longer-term goals. If it's an exit to buyside, then a BB brand like GS or MS can serve you well if you want to go MF PE (sounds out of the question if you are avoiding NYC). If you want to exit to MM / UMM PE, then you'll actually do well at the banks you mentioned - PE shops hire associates they worked with on deals fairly regularly. Though the job and hours can be very similar in PE at the junior and mid level, but you have more stress and get paid less unless you have carry that hits.
It's also a bit group dependent, and if you are going to a top group at any of those shops, you will get better experience and better deal flow, but the hours can be quite tough. Pay is excellent though and actually top of (above) street for 1-2 of those.
Are you talking about at the analyst or associate level? I didn’t think PE was really on the table. Are WB hours rough?
Associates at any of those banks can work 80+ hours pretty regularly during live deals, especially if you are on 2-3. There are ebbs and flows though, as you know. PE isn't off the table at the associate level but it's a very similar job. For what it's worth, if you are in a top group at one of those three, odds are you will spend a lot more of your time working on deals than pitching (which is nice).
For those PE exits as an associate is a BB going to give you materially different outcomes than say boutiques like Evercore and Moelis vs. GS/MS/JP or say mid tier BBs vs. Boutiques like Guggs, SVB, Allen, etc
EB's and BB's both have great exits and can exit to similar places. At the end of the day it will be about experience and candidate quality, but generally someone form a GS / JP / MS or Evercore / PJT will have a higher probability of getting an interview.
Former WF banker who lateralled to a BB here - exit opps are night and day, if that's what you want. Even if you wanted to be a career banker, one thing I've observed and I'm sure you have too, is that as you progress through your career as a banker, most guys VP and up switch banks a bunch of times to get promoted as they rise to MD, and almost never do they up-tier banks, always a slow drift down. So might as well start as high as you can if you'll be downshifting into promos. Trust me, you will thank yourself for greener exit opp pastures and better dealflow/experience. It will be more work, but with that comes better experience and makes you a more valuable commodity down the line. Rising to MD at Wells running co-manager deals and sometimes getting a dinky M&A mandate leaves you with low job security/transferability, in my honest opinion. Loved my time at Wells, but very very happy I left.
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