Investment Banking Associate Mega-thread

This board is filled with information regarding analyst recruiting and exit ops. I wanted to start this thread to gather information regarding associate recruiting. I am currently in Bschool and plan to recruit for IB this fall. For someone who wants to be a career banker, would you recommend BB, MM or EB? Which banks are best for:

  1. career progression
  2. pay
  3. hours
9 Comments
 

Can anyone share their experience moving from an associate in corporate finance to an associate in an investment bank?

I'm considering taking the MBA in a year or two and switching after that.

 
Most Helpful

There are too many variables here to give a valid response. Are you looking to grind your entire career and strictly focus on M&A? Go with EB / Upper MM. If you are looking for better work/life balance and the ability to move within groups? Go BB. If you are looking to primarily work on sponsor-backed MM deals? Go MM.

Pay / # of hours: EB > Upper MM (JEF, Blair, Baird, HL) = BB > MM. Career progression highly depends on what you actually want to do.

 

Two scenarios for you then, keeping in mind that the first scenario is by no means a given:

  1. If your post-MBA banking goal is to eventually (doesn't need to be 2 or 3 years) transition to a PE role as an associate (senior associate, maybe?), are there any particular banks (MM because of less rigid structure, BB because of network/connections, EB because of brand name, etc.) that you're better off targeting(read: easier) than others?

  2. If the first option doesn't pan out, and your new goal becomes maximizing $/Hr and upward mobility, which grouping would be better then? My inclination is to say EB because they typically pay more, but I also feel like hierarchically they are more difficult to climb due to sheer lack of available seats above you.

EDIT: Let's hold group constant for the sake of the thought, call it a reputable M&A desk for all three groupings.

 

Eos aperiam non voluptas voluptatem. Nemo error quia quis quia repellat et. Repellendus odio non iusto perferendis. Maiores quos omnis velit et soluta saepe ratione eveniet.

Aliquam necessitatibus reprehenderit voluptatem adipisci harum et. Enim minima ut quam qui ratione. Qui autem vel inventore laborum eum voluptatum deserunt. Qui voluptas quidem nesciunt delectus necessitatibus provident corporis.

Vel et ex aliquid cupiditate voluptas earum. Delectus et vel et quasi exercitationem. Dolore esse est nam a officia laudantium eos reprehenderit. Repellendus nihil tenetur qui dolore eum recusandae. Deleniti ipsam aspernatur reiciendis.

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 (66) $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...”