Other than the top number, I feel that bottom bucket bonuses have the most variability.
It ranges from being right below mid bucket to getting a $50 Buc-ees gift card.
Fellow bottom buckets, let’s keep the below updated this bonus season so we can understand how close we are to getting fired.
I’ll start -
Top BB / AN1 / $25K
| +160 | As Lehman people reconvene at UBS, Barclays needs to hire (2023) | 23 | 6h |
| +126 | Is pay at BofA really that bad? | 62 | 2h |
| +88 | Day at Macquarie | 12 | 23h |
| +57 | Worlds Worst MDs Competition (2026 Edition) | 11 | 35m |
| +45 | How bad did I mess up | 10 | 1d |
| +44 | Is the life of a VP at a 'top-bank' really good? | 15 | 3d |
| +31 | Misrepresented Houston IB | 14 | 1d |
| +29 | No BB RO 2026 | 10 | 2d |
| +28 | JPM SMALL CAP or WF/JEF/RBC Coverage group | 13 | 20h |
| +24 | T(ouse)D Securities | 9 | 2d |
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i respect this
Good idea - Bump
MS/JPM/GS
$20k
Was planning a trip to Myk and probably can’t afford it
This is def MS based on the other numbers reported
Could also be JPM, they released bonus numbers yesterday
As an AN2 or AN1?
Genuine question — does bottom bucket usually imply you’re on the wrong track for A2A conversion if you do want to stay? Like should you be concerned about getting laid off? Not in IB but always wondered this.
You will prob end up doing one more year as an analyst vs the good analyst who ends up staying to go A2A — might get fired afterwards too if youre just really bad and or not liked
But let’s be real. Being bottom bucket is more a product of you not being liked and not having anyone to vouch for you than it is about your actual quality of output at the Analyst level (not to be used as a sympathy card bc it’s ultimately up to you to find an internal sponsor/sponsors that enjoy being around you and want you on their team enough to vouch for you).
Not sure how things are done at BBs/other banks but at my bank (industry boutique) the bottom/mid/top bucket analyst bonus spread was like 70/80/90 and a $20K bonus is basically you being kindly shown the door.
Assuming you get that kind of bonus - how long do you typically have before they fire you
No idea - no one in my class or then next one got that. Know it had happened before my time.
Bottom BB / AN2 / $10K
Did you get something similar last year? And are you planning on coming back?
GS/ MS/ JPM
An2 £10k
Peers receiving 40/50k
Still got promoted but super frustrated
how did you still get promoted? lol
and are you mad
Nah he’s probably super happy
Don't understand either, the feedback from MD was very positive but the bonus is extremely low
The decision to promote / not promote is separate from the ranking. If your manager thinks that you just had a bit of a bad year but have potential to turn it around you can still be recommended for promotion.
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