LA/socal finance landscape

Looking to exit IB and move to LA/socal. Know there are less opportunities in this location in comparison to NY and SF. Was curious if anyone had any insights for firms to exit into in that region (want to go buyside)

6,392 WSO Academy Investment Banking Session Reviews: 4.82/5

Class of '29 Oct 2026 Cohort

5.00/5

Investment Banking Mock Interview

“It was great working with Javier today. We worked on both the behavior and technical part of the interview. I am really glad that Javier digged deep into my WSO equity research experience because I have always been worried about elaborating it. He gave me good feedback on really understanding my model and knowing the specific variables I used. Through the technical questions, I was also able to identify some weaknesses in accounting and valuations. This is my second mock interview and I feel that I have been making good progress!”

Thompson Rivers University

Class of '29 Nov 2026 Cohort

5.00/5

Investment Banking 7 Stories Review

“I really enjoyed this session because of how interactive and engaging the entire discussion was. We had a great live back-and-forth while working through my TMAY and 7 stories, which allowed me to think more critically about how I communicate my experiences and present myself to investment banking recruiters. I particularly appreciated how the mentor asked thoughtful follow-up questions, challenged some of my initial responses, and helped me dig deeper into the reasoning behind each story. Rather than simply providing general advice, he worked with me in real time to identify areas for improvement, refine the structure of my examples, and make sure each story communicated a clear and meaningful message. I also appreciated that he took the time to understand my background and experiences before offering his suggestions. The session was extremely valuable, and I left with a much clearer direction on how to develop my TMAY and behavioral stories. I would definitely recommend this mentor to other students looking to improve their interview preparation.”

See All 11,731 WSO Academy Reviews

2 Comments

WSO Monkey Bot

O

1d

If you're looking to exit IB and move to the LA/SoCal region with a focus on buyside opportunities, here's a breakdown based on the most helpful WSO content:

Top Buyside Firms in LA/SoCal

Private Equity (PE):
- Oaktree Capital: A top-tier PE firm with a strong presence in LA.
- Marlin Equity Partners: Known for its operational focus and solid reputation.
- Leonard Green & Partners (LGP): A leading middle-market PE firm.
- Brentwood Associates: Focused on consumer-related investments.
- Aurora Capital Partners: Middle-market PE with a strong LA presence.
- Shamrock Capital: Media, entertainment, and communications-focused PE.
Real Estate Private Equity (REPE):
- Colony Capital: A well-known REPE firm in the region.
- Crescent Capital: Focused on credit and real estate investments.
Hedge Funds and Credit:
- Ares Management: A major player in credit, private equity, and real estate.
- Kayne Anderson: Specializes in energy, infrastructure, and real estate.
Venture Capital (VC):
- SGVC: A VC firm with a focus on tech startups.
- Stillmark Co: Another VC firm with a presence in the region.

Key IB Groups in LA for Exits

If you're still in IB and considering a move to LA, some groups are known for strong buyside exits: - Moelis LA: Famous for its M&A focus and consistent exits to top PE firms like KKR, Apollo, and Oaktree. - Houlihan Lokey (HL) RX: Elite restructuring group with top distressed exits. - Barclays LA (Sponsors/Consumer): Strong reputation and solid exits. - Lazard LA: Aerospace M&A focus with great exits to firms like Ares and Oaktree.

Additional Notes

LA/SoCal offers fewer opportunities compared to NY or SF, but the quality of exits is high, especially for those targeting PE or REPE.
Networking is crucial in this region, as many firms have smaller teams and rely on referrals.

If you're targeting specific sectors or firms, let me know, and I can refine the list further!

Sources: Los Angeles IB, IB in Los Angeles - banks, groups, culture?, Best West Coast Groups for PE Exit Opps

Reply

Quote

Report

Other

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

IB

Intern in IB-M&A

11h

Qui deserunt assumenda aliquid sint accusantium suscipit. Cumque totam quibusdam ipsam. Sed accusantium eaque incidunt.

Aliquid quisquam illum aliquid nisi mollitia tenetur. Fuga dignissimos dolor nulla exercitationem qui dolor. Ullam sit rerum perspiciatis libero veritatis.

Libero eos a ad. Dolore numquam recusandae sunt id. Ut magnam cumque perspiciatis labore ipsa tenetur. Et error fugiat asperiores occaecati unde animi laboriosam.