Is it hard to go from MM to BB?

Is it difficult whatsoever to go from a reputable middle market shop like (Blair, Baird, HL, Lincoln, BGL) to a solid bulge bracket? (BAML, GS, MS, Barclays, etc.)

Just want to hear some insight here on people who have went from a good MM shop to a top BB.

 

Curious to hear your motive to move. You’re likely to get a much better experience and skill set from being at a reputable MM shop as opposed to a BB where you’re gonna be the last link in the chain (if you are a junior banker). That being said, if you’re just looking for a more reputable name to push yourself into a “better” exit opportunity, I am not sure that moving to a BB will be all that helpful to you in building your skill set/deal experience. The group you are in certainly is a larger factor though so maybe it could be worth it.

 
a-non-hardo

Probably because it's much easier to get into an MF from a top BB lol

Damn so you're basing your whole career trajectory off of what some online forum says is the ideal path? 

 

Not hard at all. At one of the names you listed and seen this a couple times. You’ll have no problem getting interviews. That said, most people at these Top MM’s aren’t looking to do so, there’s no benefit to making the move imho unless you’re just a prestige whore or tryna get better PE exit or something. Usually it’s just not worth it, Top MMs pay very well (often better than mid BBs) and the deal experience is better too (lean deal teams, still high quality assets etc)

 

Deal experience at a sell-side middle market shop is completely different than at a bulge. Your response is accurate if you cut and paste "Top MM" for "EB" (similar deals, compete with each other, EBs pay more and have very lean teams). Sell-side churning MMs are much more process management heavy. Managing buyer trackers and diligence requests and spamming teasers/CIPs to buyers etc.

 
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I know people who have lateraled from complete no-name boutiques to Goldman/BofA. Skill set is all that matters. 

One counterpoint I will mention is that I see a ton of people saying there's no reason to go to a BB instead of a MM, if you aren't planning on trying to exit to a PE Mega Fund. I would challenge this assertion a little bit. The BB banks have absolutely massive client networks and being groomed to become a senior banker at a BB will thus expand your network significantly versus being groomed at a MM, where you're going to have to hunt a lot of your clients yourself. At the BBs, you obviously have to be proactive, but some deals really will fall in your lap from people passing down their connections to you and the deals you do have to hunt/pitch for, you will have a higher chance of winning with the BB namebrand on your pitch. Additionally because BBs are full-service financial institutions, the cross-sell ability also makes sourcing a bit easier as a senior banker. 

TL;DR there are perks to being a senior banker at a BB instead of a lean MM bank. 

Also, Joe Biden is trash and the liberals are trying to take my guns and give me autism via the COVID vaccine. 

Donald Trump's Post-Midterm Freakout Is in Full Swing – Rolling Stone

 

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