How does bonus pool work? Do groups get a certain amount of buckets they must distribute (you compete with coworkers)? Or is it independent for everyone (there is not a fixed amount of buckets to be distributed)?
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In my experience it will always be divided into buckets, but your firm/group has discretion regarding the number of buckets and distribution amongst the buckets.
So say we are 5 analyst, if 4 of us are awesome we can all get top bucket? Hypothetically...
It's more likely that they would say you are all performing the same (even if it is awesome) and give you all middle bucket with a few thousand dollar variations from one analyst to the next. Banks aren't ever going to give every person in the group top bucket.
Hypothetically, yes - although unlikely. It depends on analyst distribution across the firm, how big the pool is, etc
Compensation Buckets (Originally Posted: 08/17/2009)
Does anyone know how compensation categories or 'buckets' are organized? People talk about being top bucket or 2nd bucket, but it's not clear (to me at least) how many buckets there even are, let alone how the class is divided amongst buckets. I had thought there were 5 buckets, with 20% of the class being placed in each bucket, but have heard to the contrary recently.
Any insight would be appreciated.
Typically 3. Top, mid, and low-performers.
I think its typically something like 10%, 80%, 10% or maybe 10%, 70%, 20%
How are bonuses distributed? (Originally Posted: 05/17/2007)
I know it matters whether you're a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year. But how else are bonuses determined?
Is it based on how much work you've put in? How many deals you've been on?
What if you're in an LA or SF office - do the fees generated by the NY contribute to your bonus as well?
Or is everything shared equally, after all costs are taken care of?
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