Bonus and corporations

This is stupid take… but sure deal flow and fees are down y/y but why does it impact bonus pools so much. GS, JPM, are still making couple of billions, while the junior people have to take the cut

5,786 WSO Academy Investment Banking Session Reviews: 4.82/5

Georgetown McDonough School of Business

Class of '29 Jul 2026 Cohort

5.00/5

Investment Banking Mock Interview

“Julius was an excellent mentor and made the mock interview feel both challenging and constructive. He asked realistic investment banking questions and did a great job explaining not only what I could improve, but why certain answers were stronger. His feedback was specific, actionable, and immediately useful, particularly around structuring my responses and communicating my thought process more clearly. I also appreciated how approachable and encouraging he was throughout the session. I came away with several concrete takeaways that I can apply to future interviews, and I would absolutely work with Julius again. ”

SDA Bocconi School of Management

Class of '25 Oct 2026 Cohort

4.70/5

Investment Banking Full Resume Review

“The mentoring sessions were extremely valuable and played an important role in improving both the quality and the overall presentation of my CV. The mentor took the time to go through every single aspect of the document in great detail, providing clear and practical feedback on the content, structure, wording, and overall positioning of my experiences. One of the most valuable aspects of the sessions was the mentor’s ability to understand the specific requirements and expectations of the Investment Banking industry. Rather than simply making general improvements, he carefully reviewed each section of my CV and helped me identify how to better present my academic background, professional experiences, skills, and achievements in a way that is relevant and attractive to Investment Banking recruiters. The mentor also completely restructured the CV, helping me move from an initial version to a polished final format specifically suited to Investment Banking applications. The final result was much more concise, professional, and impactful, while ensuring that the most relevant information was clearly highlighted. His attention to detail was particularly helpful in improving the wording and making each bullet point more focused on achievements and measurable impact. Another aspect I particularly appreciated was his responsiveness. He was extremely quick in answering my questions and providing feedback, which made the entire process very efficient. Whenever I had doubts or needed clarification, I received a prompt and detailed response, allowing me to continuously improve the CV without unnecessary delays. Overall, the mentoring sessions provided significant value and gave me a much clearer understanding of how to position my profile for Investment Banking opportunities. I am very satisfied with the final version of my CV and with the level of guidance and support provided throughout the process. I would highly recommend this mentoring experience to anyone looking to strengthen their CV and prepare it effectively for a career in Investment Banking.”

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3 Comments

PE

Associate 2 in PE - LBOs

3y

Most Helpful

Corporate goal is to maximize shareholder value, not junior banker pay... To incentivize shareholder value contribution bonuses are performance based at different levels from the division down to the senior bankers. To that end, the corporation wants to incentivize the investment banking division to maximize profit. When it does that the IB gets the carrot of big bonuses. When it doesn't it gets the stick of lower bonuses. The corporation isn't going to take a reward from a division doing well (consumer credit cards, etc.) and use it instead to bonus the divisions that aren't doing well. Would lessen the incentive to perform well in future years.

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Authored by: Certified Private Equity Professional - Vice PresidentCertified Private Equity Pro

ottodickmann

IA

3y

Thanks for your opinion!

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Debt Capital Markets WSO

pipole4

CD

3y

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Authored by: Certified Corporate Development Professional - Executive DirectorCertified Corporate Development Pro

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Bonus and corporations

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