I am looking to pivot from consulting (1YOE at MBB) to investment banking. My goal is to make the most money as possible in 1 year, and I do NOT care about exit opportunities (cannot explain). What firms should I look at? NY based.
| +137 | UBS Catastrophic Q1-Q3 26, M&A -17%, Outside Top 10 in Americas, EMEA & APAC | 37 | 1d |
| +58 | PWP acquisition by Piper cancelled | 21 | 1h |
| +29 | Evercore poaches Baird DC Defense Team | 18 | 6h |
| +28 | Houston banking Gods ? | 16 | 2d |
| +21 | Best Houston Banks for Culture in 2026 | 14 | 3h |
| +18 | Normal for lateral process to go +2 months? | 4 | 1d |
| +17 | Internal lateral from coverage to M&A (focused on coverage) | 4 | 11h |
| +15 | How standard is weekend work in IBD? | 6 | 2d |
| +15 | Discussion Transaction Experience in Lateral Interviews | 3 | 3d |
| +15 | Ducera Insights? | 3 | 2d |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Highest paid is the opposite of easiest to get in to. The highest paying banks (Qatalyst, Evercore, Moelis, etc.) are all super difficult to break in to. The only outlier is FTP, but going from MBB to there would be a massive downgrade.
Agreed MBB is valid
FTPinsider
did cvp hurt ur feelings or sum? them & Q should be the first names in mind when comp is the topic lol
No I just forgot it lol. I wrote that comment in 10 seconds, no need to get triggered CVP intern.
Ur so triggered LMFAOOOO
FTP sounds perfect for me. What do you mean by downgrade? Like I said, I do not care about exit opportunities or the quality of the training / culture--just the pay.
I also heard of CVP, and Ducera is another one on my mind
Any others?
What I mean is it completely lacks prestige. This is primarily associated with the fact that they focus on capital raises and have poor exit ops, which would be non-factors for you.
Other banks would include some other lesser known boutiques, such as DBO, Dyal, and M. Klein. However, most of these banks only hire from certain target schools or only hire laterals from other banks.
No prestige, perfect, just what I'm looking for. Any other names that come to mind that would be consulting friendly (esp. with only 1 YOE)?
Not sure if it is worth looking up complete no-name investment banks, IDK how their salary is. Again, I only care about compensation for 1 year before I quit (cannot disclose circumstances). Therefore salary / bonuses cannot need years to vest.
Yeah, there are a few “no-name” banks that pay near street, but it’s hard to find comp data online because they’re so small. They won’t pay as much as the names in this thread, but will still pay more than MBB. All the names that have been mentioned in this thread so far would probably not hire a Consultant directly into an Analyst role (a more typical path for a consultant to enter banking would be via MBA as an Associate). Some names that could warrant further research are AQ Technology Partners (seem to always be hiring), ACG Partners, Aeris Partners, Provident Healthcare Partners, Del Morgan & Co, and a bunch of other middle market boutiques. Honestly, with MBB on your resume, I would lean into the alumni network of your firm and school and just start networking. Target middle market focused firms over top brand names, they pay almost the same. Also target non-NYC offices, they also pay the same and have more lax hiring standards. Some larger middle market firms are Baird, Blair, Cowen, Stifel, Jefferies, Raymond James, Piper Sandler, and Harris Williams.
You can also go on LinkedIn and see which forms are hiring for one-off roles. For example, Ducera LA and GS LA have both been looking for an experienced analyst in the last month.
Congrats on Moelis
I’m at a BB lol. You can go look at the Bonus thread yourself tho, and Analysts at Moelis were clearing 130k+ bonuses.
FTP, though niche, is very respected in its field. Don't think it's fair to compare it to other banks more generally, esp given this guy's situation
FTP ($140K an1 base btw)
Heard Ducera usually pays lights out, however one of the worst hours in banking. It'll probably only get sweatier as the economy continues to slide.
Edit: Can anyone confirm these numbers on the database...
I recall someone had posted about Ducera pay based similar to these numbers (if not more). High turnover/burnout due to hours/deals.
Well if true, they blow pjt, cvp, all the mf and most HFs out of the water in terms of pay.
Ducera is very good pay wise and is generally less prestige focused than other well known boutiques, in that they are willing to look at candidates outside traditional top schools or laterals from BBs/EBs. But, the interviews are know to be extremely extremely technical and thorough. So it is by no means a easy place to get an offer. May be tough if you don’t have a decent understanding of restructuring by now.
Got it, sounds tough but I think I can manage to prep for that. So far I have Ducera and FTP. Where else should I be applying to maximize my chances?
Again priorities:
1) compensation for a 1 year stint (cannot need to vest)
2) least prestige / easiest to get into; could care less about exit opps
2 of the best cultures in banking, great picks!
Dyal, M Klein, and raine. A care a bit more about pedigree, coming from a solid consulting firm, you will be fine.
Shea and Co
deleted
Yeah same... They carved out a nice niche in software. Heard the hours can be brutal though
You may have to kill yourself, but from what I’ve heard… dyal numbers are ridiculous
Blair. Pays at the top of the MM, and you’re competing against MM talent.
HL - pays well (finally) but it’s stock based so your next job will need to buy you out
Doesn't Gugg pay equivalent to some of the better EBs and has a bit more of a chill culture?
Sunt omnis earum ut nisi officiis. Molestias excepturi assumenda aut totam. Dolores eligendi voluptatum voluptatem in inventore explicabo voluptatem quo. Repudiandae fuga necessitatibus ipsam sit eaque repudiandae.
Voluptas non et qui cupiditate sed ab aut. Voluptas culpa ipsam quaerat.
Omnis at est dolorum non minima. Aut magnam aut voluptatem sit animi ea quia. Amet mollitia itaque animi ut consequatur aliquam.
Autem nihil quia provident et consectetur. Illum ea explicabo laudantium vitae.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Itaque dolorem sit sed mollitia quos maxime sunt non. Quos eum cum adipisci saepe. Assumenda omnis debitis placeat aspernatur consequuntur in. Quidem sint nisi vitae ut voluptas. Praesentium libero blanditiis qui suscipit.
Omnis atque et magni rerum enim et. Assumenda est assumenda minima totam est maxime et et. Neque et dolorum autem sed in aspernatur.
Aut maxime veritatis nesciunt alias ipsa eaque qui. Qui amet accusantium corporis voluptas architecto. Ab est odio qui voluptate voluptatem et odio.
Delectus porro voluptatem tempora voluptas asperiores ratione. Itaque ex aut doloremque quisquam aut. Velit ut sint qui maxime et molestias temporibus est.