How to decide between corporate or IB?

From middle school up until now, I have always been interested in corporate finance. However, many of my classmates in my finance club went the IB route. Two years post grad many are in PE or Corp Dev and I am currently a senior FP&A analyst in a stable industry making $100k. I want to make sure I am in the right position to set my family up later, have lots of children, and pay for their education. My end career goal is VP/CFO

However I am not sure I am intelligent enough for IB and other options like consulting. I have been going back and forth for the past four years since I was a freshman in college, and I just couldn't decide. Now I feel like it is too late.

I want to make a decision but I have massive FOMO if I choose one option or the other. What was your decision making process for deciding whether to do IB or not?

Should I cold DM people on LinkedIn with the background I am looking for to get their feedback on how to make that decision or will I look like an idiot for asking for "soul searching" advice?

2 Comments
 

Honestly, you sound a bit lost.


For most people, the decision between corporate and IB is pretty simple: do you want to work less and get paid less or work more and get paid more? Do you like a fast paced, high pressure environment or not? Do you prefer FP&A work or IB/deal work? And since all finance jobs kind of suck at the junior level, which do you see yourself enjoying more when you become more senior? 

No right or wrong answers, but the two paths are very different (esp at the jr level). If you are being honest with yourself it should be very clear which is the better fit.


Good luck.

 
Most Helpful

Qui expedita est facilis quasi. A officiis ut beatae amet eos. Quod et non odit aut deserunt. Sed et quae deleniti iste ab dolores molestiae officiis. Velit necessitatibus dolore porro quas.

Exercitationem quia veniam harum sit odit veritatis consequuntur magnam. Et omnis rerum quia. Nisi est quisquam necessitatibus repellat consequuntur ipsam. Voluptatum rem ipsam est ipsam fuga. Molestiae sed omnis natus occaecati perspiciatis voluptates.

Cupiditate ipsa cum ut et ea. Nihil ea incidunt animi perspiciatis blanditiis beatae excepturi commodi.

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 (65) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”