BofA vs PWP vs CS

Hey everyone, my younger brother has an offer join either BofA, PWP, or CS next summer in NYC. I've given him my opinion already (I’m currently at an EB) but curious to hear what everyone thinks. He really enjoyed the people at PWP and pay is higher, but he is not THAT committed to banking and feels a BB name might help him with a different career if he changes. What do y'all recommend?Thanks so much!

28 Comments
 

If he thinks he wants to stay in finance definitely 

1. PWP

2. BofA

3. CS

if he thinks he may want to pivot outside of finance might recommend he go to a more well known name like BofA or CS for increased optionality

 

PWP 100%. Culture, comp, prestige, exits, experience, learning. Even outside “banking”, I think it is a well respected name that will hold up in any business setting.

If your brother is pretty open minded to leaving business completely, then maybe go with CS or Baml.

 
Controversial

If you don’t want finance long term do BofA, otherwise do PWP all day. Better average pay, exits, and experience. They only group that can compete with PWP is BofA’s M&A team (hard to land that specifically). CS doesn’t play in the same sandbox.

 

M&A and FSG at BofA might even place better than PWP but getting into those groups can be quite challenging

 

not sure where you got the idea that PWP is falling in status. During H1 2021 they had higher combined deal value than MOE and PJT combined. They also had higher Q2 revenue than PJT and grew 128% YOY. On top of that their exits were unreal this year (just look at the exits thread if you want to find out)

 

We need more info man. What groups at each bank? Which team did he feel like he jelled well with?

I’m a prestige guy since that’s my background and tend to favor candidates like me when hiring, and since he is not dead set on a banking career I would suggest baml. Can’t go wrong with a big name as a starting point. If he is solely focused on pay, then PWP. Would leave CS on hold forever.

 

Pay + better average exits to PE: PWP

Brand name so the girl at Phebe’s bar will fall in love with you: CS/BAML

 

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