Does WLB Exist Anywhere in IB?
I’m currently recruiting for SA ‘27 and genuinely am interested in concepts like merger models and dcfs + I love the idea of meeting prospective clients and hopefully bringing them in if I’m able to make it to MD. However, I’ve been wondering if there are banks where there even is work life balance so that I can try to stick it out to MD without burning out after 2 years. I don’t care about prestige, comp, or any of that. I just want to do the work and be rainmaker MD who also has a wife and kids who don’t resent him. Any insight into where I can look for 60 hour weeks past 28-30ish would be appreciated.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, achieving true work-life balance (WLB) in investment banking (IB) is challenging, but there are some paths and firms that may align with your goals:
Smaller Banks and Lower Middle Market (LMM) Firms:
Corporate Development or Strategy Roles:
Private Equity (PE) at Smaller Funds:
Equity Research:
Big 4 Consulting or Corporate Banking:
Firm-Specific Culture:
Long-Term Perspective:
If your goal is to become a rainmaker MD with a family life, targeting smaller firms or transitioning to roles like corporate development or private equity at smaller funds might be your best bet.
Sources: Work/Life Balance: Equity Research vs. Investment Banking - (A Definitive Guide, Part 1), Why work up to MD in Investment Banking?, Is work life balance really worth it when you are young?, Who wants a better life? I want to help., Work/Life Balance: Equity Research vs. Investment Banking - (A Definitive Guide, Part 1)
No.
Yes, these shops exist, but the good ones are far and few between. In general, the 10-15 man shops will offer this, but it is hard to differentiate between the good and bad ones. For example, Republic Partners in Chicago is likely a bank you've never heard of, but from what I hear the hours are ~40-60. Remember, the deals you work on will reflect this, and youll be almost exclusively operating in the LMM. There is nothing wrong with this, but it is important to note. When you work at these firms, youll get less reps and you wont be learning from the best, which may or may not inhibit your ability to become a "rainmaker MD", but it is noteworthy.
My advice? Work at the best bank you can for 2-3 years and when you're burnt out and miserable but have incredible experience, look to pivot to a lifestyle bank.
FWIW, rarely are there "rainmaker MDs" at these banks, but there are plenty that clear very high six figures / low seven figures.
Look M&A in general is a tremendous amount of work. You can be a banker, lawyer, consultant, integration specialist, advisor, or anything else that directly touches M&A, and I would bet you would agree with me. I personally know folks in each of these categories, and at times they are all stretched to the max. I think where these smaller shops really excel is by prioritizing key tasks. They dont pitch on deals with a 2% success rate, they dont create a ton of admin work for their junior staff, they focus on true, value add deliverables.
Hope this helps OP, I too prioritized lifestyle over prestige (prestige is for children and manchildren with ego issues).
Thank you very much this was very helpful. I’m totally okay with being scoffed at by BB and EB bankers for working at a LMM/MM bank if it means I won’t be single and depressed when I’m 40. Appreciate the insight man.
Of course, happy to help or answer any follow up questions you might have. Maybe you are 10x smarter than me and know exactly what you want to do with your life (there are plenty of people out there like this), but if you are anything like me your career will move in directions (both better and worse than expected) that you never thought possible. I.E., Don't get too closely tied to one track. To end my response with some more advice you didn't ask for, try to find a shop with smart and KIND people where you can get good experience, like your colleagues, and find your work interesting. Do not underestimate the value of working for kind people. Do you know how nice it is to have a deal team where your boss gets into the trenches with you on a broken model at midnight, or tells you to work remote for a few days so you can catch up on ZZZs, or brings you to management meetings not because you're a value add but because it is good for your own development? OP, I share this advice because when I was your age these were the things I never thought of, but now matter so much to me.
P.S. Remember that you get to define what an incredible job looks like. You are smart enough not to rely on prestige, which is a metric defined by others. For example, I work for a company you've never heard of in a not so sexy space but I feel I am well compensated, love the work I do, love my boss (yes really, he is THAT good), and have flexibility in when and how I work. When I was your age idk how much that would have mattered to me, but now that I am married I feel a large sense of gratitude for ending up so well positioned.
This right here.
I work at a LMM bank, and I average ~50 hours per week while still making street comp (below market base, but above market bonus + % of fees for closed transactions). Hours will obviously jump up during sprints, but that’s the nature of M&A.
This job will always be unpredictable and will always have periods of crazy hours, but you can mitigate the worst parts of the job that you often see in most other firms by working for a team who are (1) good at what they do, (2) don’t feel the need to pitch for everything under the sun, (3) are comfortable turning down mandates that’ll go nowhere and (4) truly care about you as a person and your professional development.
The partner I work for takes the time to chat with me every single day about what’s on my plate, what my career aspirations are, what aspects I want to lean into to be a great future coverage banker, etc.
Key consideration is that YMMV heavily. These opportunities are very few and far between, and I went into this role not knowing what to expect. I could have very easily landed at some chopshop doing garbage deals and cranking out pitches.
Sounds good I appreciate the insight. I agree and it's not exactly something I can be picky about given I'm interested in this career, but I really appreciate your experience.
UBS Tech. Nobody works Saturday (no live deal flow which is needed for Saturday work approval) and group has a volunteer staffing model. Sure favoritism of select analysts and associates for everything live sucks for learning, but also makes it absurdly easy to coast. Lastly, being in SF means you get out when the sun is out fairly frequently given time zones + lack of activity.
Interesting. Will look into UBS SF thank you.
My group is volunteer staffing too, makes it so nice
Dyal and Co
Dave, I had the exact same thought when I was at the same stage in my career. Right out of college I joined Wells Fargo as an assistant branch manager in anchorage. Little did I know that role would expose me firsthand to the ruthlessness of high finance. The stress of the fast paced arguments with customers who claimed we opened a "fake account" in their name, the dark cold winters, and the weekly hours (which could hit the lower 50's sometimes!) was a true test of character. After a while, I realized that if I was working all day, I had no time to make money - so I scrounged enough cash to buy a one-way (basic economy) ticket to Chattanooga, where I have been ever since, hitting 12 below par on the muni.
Wow that sounds like great exposure! Did you happen to know anybody working in the energy group at Test & Tickles in anchorage while you were there? Have been trying to network with them but I think they are busy with the polar bear and narwhal merger right now. If you had any connects from your time in the trenches of Anchorage, that would be amazing.
Get a grip Dave, you’ll never get a T&T interview, much less a coffee chat.
WLB in banking is usually commensurate to deal flow. Small, infrequent deals = better WLB. But at that point you start to worry about the longevity of your group and may have to exit anyways, but with less reps than others coming from better groups. There’s no free lunch.
Fair enough. Can't have it all.
On the flip side smaller groups may have ambitions or chips on shoulders and your hours and quality of life might be worse than a BB.
Yeah. I guess only way to know is just to grind it out and get there, and hope I get lucky.
UBS (after you get laid off)
Not really, but it’s not as if everywhere is equally painful.
I’m at a bank now with a great culture - probably the best firmwide culture on the street. Yes, the hours can reach 80-90 at times … this is, after all, IB, and deal flow is solid. However, stress levels aren’t too extreme, there’s some flexibility as for when the work is done, people are kind and will make sure you aren’t crushed in a way that poses a legitimate risk to health and safety, training is terrific, and retention is high. That is probably the best you can ask for.
In general, I’d say that European banks are probably better places to work (strictly from a lifestyle perspective).
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