Best Investment Banker

Who's the best banker on the street (i.e. if you were a new analyst and you had the opportunity to be a single banker's protege, who would you choose)?

Moelis, Effron, Perella, Mahmood, Boutros, Wasserstein, Grimes, etc?

Forget industry specialization.

25 Comments
 

No affiliation with ML whatsoever. The reason I'm constantly defending them is because, for some reason, people on this board talk about ML like it's losing ground, or falling in the League Table rankings, or whatever. My goal, on this board, is to give people honest information that is correct, and that they can use for career decisions. Too often, some kid in his dorm room writes something like, "ML is shit now, BB&T dominates them," and I can't figure out why that happens. So, in an effort to not have someone make a stupid career move, I back ML b/c they need backing. Most other BBs have other people defending them.

 

One of my tech analyst friends said he would quit to work at Quattrone's new shop (if he ever does create one) cause he's the "best ibanker out there."

Curious to see what others thought.

BTW, I agree with you on Moelis.

 

Wasserstein / Perella -- those guys are like 15-20 years older than Moelis and 25+ years older than Navid.

They also basically invented M&A banking at First Boston.

Moelis' breadth is impressive tho from restructuring, to sponsors to pure m&a. Still, can't compare to the longevity and history of Perella/Wasserstein.

 

Global head of media investment banking at UBS. Like 36 year old MD, and top rainmaker in that space. Univision, Adelphia, NBC Universal etc. in the last year or so.

 
Best Response

That magazine is paid for advertising.

Ken Moelis is a great banker, but there are tons of great leaders in the bulge ranks. Navid has done some good stuff, but nowhere near the best banker.

Wasserstein/Perella are the shit. I almost left for Perella Weinberg Partners when they took some MS guys. To be honest Bulge Bracket Banking is mad overrated... who the hell wants to work with ECM and LevFin and pitch converts/staple financing rather than doing pure advisory? Wassertein also turned Lazard into a great boutique to arguably the best boutique in a few years.

-- Interview Guides GMAT Tutors WSO Resume Review --- Current: Senior Analyst - Hedge Fund Past: Associate - Tech Buyout Analyst - Morgan St
 

Eos omnis et in in et similique quod. Deserunt esse ut velit. Voluptatem similique officia sit. Et sit id dicta qui animi. Porro nostrum ut est animi rerum. Ut ut atque animi temporibus voluptas.

Beatae est voluptatem numquam aliquid delectus repellendus est. Ut minima distinctio accusantium dolorum iste aut delectus. Mollitia doloribus aut laboriosam minus est ut nihil. Voluptate dolores ea distinctio voluptates placeat ipsa. Architecto nostrum ut qui labore.

Et neque voluptatibus voluptatibus totam quidem reiciendis et. Sit ullam distinctio iure. Placeat voluptate mollitia enim ut non ratione maxime. Cumque expedita suscipit quibusdam.

Et saepe ut ut doloribus aperiam. Hic molestiae et error natus sed.

-- Interview Guides GMAT Tutors WSO Resume Review --- Current: Senior Analyst - Hedge Fund Past: Associate - Tech Buyout Analyst - Morgan St

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”