Hours at Boutiques

I'm probably going to get shit on for this...but what are we looking at in terms of hours/culture/lifestyle at regional West Coast boutiques?

I'm also interested in exit opps. I've talked to a few people at the boutiques below and many of them said exit opps to VC or growth funds are good because of the sizes of the deal. And Those funds shy away from hiring kids from bulge brackets since they want kids with experience in smaller deals. Thoughts?

Here are examples (mostly West Coast): JMP Securities (a little bigger than my target firm) Livingstone Partners Pagemill Partners Ridgecrest Capital Arbor Advisors Canaccord Adams (a little bigger than my target firm) GCA Savvian (a little bigger than my target firm) Aquilo Partnerse Cain Brothers & Company

Thanks

3 Comments
 

Stab in the dark here, but from your comp set and the firms you listed as bigger than your target, I'm guessing you're trying to work at Seven Hills. Am I right? (PM me if you don't wanna say.)

“Millionaires don't use astrology, billionaires do”
 

there are some other ones like pacific crest, arma partners, GP Bullhound, etc.

But to your question, lifestyle is shop dependent, if you are going to jmp or gca, you will work long hours still. Lifestyle at the "lesser" shops are better that you might need to work for only 70 hr/week.

I am not in any of these shops but the upper VCs and growth guys tend to hire guys from the BBs first then move down. If your ultimate goal is to end up at just any VC or growth fund though, being at one of these shops will give you a decent chance to get in (but you need to compete against guys like jef, stifle, hlhz, piper, etc., who also do a lot growth deals)

 

Ducimus id laudantium optio qui qui. Est qui quidem exercitationem nisi.

Occaecati accusamus quia necessitatibus iusto quisquam magni libero. Laudantium autem id eos laborum consectetur.

Animi in quis ratione et ea iste blanditiis. Saepe quod ratione aut accusamus excepturi et et. Nobis consequatur ratione recusandae quia. Excepturi dolor iusto aut est quaerat.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”