Exit Opps with better lifestyle and better base pay?

Hi Monkeys,

Currently a bulge bracket M&A sector analyst in London, been at the job for 18 months, starting to think about exit opportunities. As it is the case with most of my peers, I'm getting my weekly amount of emails, Linkedin messages and calls from headhunters looking to discuss positions.

Here's the thing: firstly, I do not want to stay until I become an associate, so that gives me about 14 months to come up with a plan. Secondly, I would like my work-life balance to improve dramatically - I'm currently averaging 9:30am to 1-2:00am as a second year analyst, and this cannot go on for 3-4 years in my view. I would like to decrease the amount of time spent working (+ much less weekend work, none if possible). A daily schedule such as 9:30am-8:00am would suit me. Thirdly, I would very much like to increase my base salary; I realize that increasing my overall compensation will be tough given my work-life balance point, but would be great to keep on gradually increasing my base salary.

Given the above, what kind of positions/sectors should I be looking at? I would very much like to stay involved in the financial/corporate world but am pretty open to anything within this.

To give a bit of background:

• got solid M&A deal experience (TMT, Industrials) - some transactions have closed, other not
• a few other closed transaction experience (ECM, DCM, LevFin, etc.)

Thanks a bunch
Actiblue