Curious if quality of life improves at the Associate level. I'm at a crossroads where I can either pivot out of IB into Corp Dev or take the Associate promotion.
I understand it's largely firm & group specific, but want to get general thoughts.
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You should focus more on what you want to do with your life and your overall priorities more. If you're thinking of Corp Dev instead of PE as your exit plan from IB, something tells me you're looking to only work 40-50 hours a week instead of the 70-90 hours you might have in banking. Some people love working all the time and making a ton of money that they believe they'll use eventually. But every year they make more and more money and justify working a ton by telling themselves "just one more bonus check and then I'll be good". I can tell you that in Corp Dev you have the opportunity to make up to 7-figures if you lead a Corp Dev group of a PE-backed company based on equity and work half the hours of banking. However, you will be making a fraction of what IB makes at each respective level until equity becomes part of your compensation. If you're fine with making $150k and working 40-50 hours, then leave banking and never look back.
Truthfully - if you're a good associate - yes your life should improve marginally but good analysts / associates / VPs typically get crushed regardless of level.
it has been better mainly because i have more control to delegate to analysts. im usually staying up almost as late but getting in earlier.
How is it easier then if you’re staying up almost as late and also getting in earlier
Probably more supervisory work and sanity checking than 100% execution.
It’s largely firm and group specific.
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