Houston IB Exits - BB

For the top BB's in Houston (MS/GS), what are some potential exit opportunities following the 2 year stint in banking. Do analysts have the option to work at a buyside generalist firm in NY/SF or are their options narrowed down to energy and infrastructure? Any examples of firms that analysts from these firms have exited would be greatly appreciated

8 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Previously at one of those groups (take a wild guess) a few years ago and can opine.

It is “possible” to go Generalist NY, and I’d say in hindsight that coming from a bigger “name” gives better leverage even if not the top dog in Houston. Also, think it’s a funny dynamic that the less diehard energy people end up in those teams vs. the specifically good Houston teams at other banks (Jefferies). So it’s also somewhat self selection.

Now, I’d say every year, ~1-2 person per class at a GS/MS goes to a non-energy / generalist MF/UMM during on-cycle. Ultimately, the issue is that the head hunters naturally bucket you into the energy/infra bucket, so it’s an up-hill battle to get looks from generalist / non-energy seats (even vs. NY based P&U teams). So if you don’t get on-cycle, then you are somewhat stuck in a situation where you are getting good looks from the bigger names/MF in energy / infra, but then more MM generalist funds.

Even for folks that don’t like / feel passionate for energy still have a hard time passing up on comp + brand name of the larger infra/energy funds with the view they can pivot once they get to NY vs taking some “branding” hit going to a smaller fund.

Last couple years with O&G/energy funds struggling to raise, biggest pipeline has been people looking to diversify from oil + most wanting NY, and make the jump to infrastructure which has a bunch of adjacencies. Assuming things will change over time and always hard to predict where things land 2 years out.

Mainly - if you want to do generalist at a bigger shop, got to prep / run head hunters pre on-cycle + ideally have some sort of edge / in to specific funds you’re targeting to get the best shot - since it’s always somewhat up-hill. This isn’t to say that you have to do that / it’s not possible other ways, just have seen this play out enough where folks are fine settling staying in energy/infra vs having to take a perceived step-down vs peers. Also, doesn’t help when half your class just signed GIP, Stonepeak, Blackstone Infra and you start feeling the heat.

Happy to help on any other Qs.

 

Previously at one of those groups (take a wild guess) a few years ago and can opine.

It is “possible” to go Generalist NY, and I’d say in hindsight that coming from a bigger “name” gives better leverage even if not the top dog in Houston. Also, think it’s a funny dynamic that the less diehard energy people end up in those teams vs. the specifically good Houston teams at other banks (Jefferies). So it’s also somewhat self selection.

Now, I’d say every year, ~1-2 person per class at a GS/MS goes to a non-energy / generalist MF/UMM during on-cycle. Ultimately, the issue is that the head hunters naturally bucket you into the energy/infra bucket, so it’s an up-hill battle to get looks from generalist / non-energy seats (even vs. NY based P&U teams). So if you don’t get on-cycle, then you are somewhat stuck in a situation where you are getting good looks from the bigger names/MF in energy / infra, but then more MM generalist funds.

Even for folks that don’t like / feel passionate for energy still have a hard time passing up on comp + brand name of the larger infra/energy funds with the view they can pivot once they get to NY vs taking some “branding” hit going to a smaller fund.

Last couple years with O&G/energy funds struggling to raise, biggest pipeline has been people looking to diversify from oil + most wanting NY, and make the jump to infrastructure which has a bunch of adjacencies. Assuming things will change over time and always hard to predict where things land 2 years out.

Mainly - if you want to do generalist at a bigger shop, got to prep / run head hunters pre on-cycle + ideally have some sort of edge / in to specific funds you’re targeting to get the best shot - since it’s always somewhat up-hill. This isn’t to say that you have to do that / it’s not possible other ways, just have seen this play out enough where folks are fine settling staying in energy/infra vs having to take a perceived step-down vs peers. Also, doesn’t help when half your class just signed GIP, Snowpoint, Blackstone Infra and you start feeling the heat.

Happy to help on any other Qs.

Snowpoint? I think you mean Stonepeak

 

Deleniti quia molestias error quo. Ut vero maxime a.

Perferendis quo laudantium porro in explicabo. Ea quia aperiam officia qui commodi. Eaque veritatis eveniet mollitia in explicabo explicabo. Qui natus consequatur fugit consequatur animi.

Quasi quibusdam id et maiores. Sint animi modi iure itaque. Quo et voluptates accusantium nobis architecto maxime placeat. Necessitatibus esse assumenda et omnis aut doloremque dolor. Doloribus molestiae sit quia blanditiis repellendus nihil. Odit blanditiis asperiores et.

Id mollitia et praesentium dolor eum molestiae. Quam temporibus fugit nostrum earum consequatur. Dolores aut dolorem nulla officiis numquam et. Sed totam consequatur numquam qui.

 

Ipsum aut totam eius ex. Occaecati doloremque ut ducimus incidunt atque. Sit nostrum labore rerum iste blanditiis et.

Tempora ut veritatis autem asperiores accusamus et non alias. Deserunt et ipsa amet voluptas. Aperiam eveniet rerum et sit. Nemo odio corrupti quam ut dolorem. Non quos ipsum illo saepe temporibus nulla qui doloribus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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

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...”