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Work at a micro boutique (~15 people) on the west coast.  Our deal size varies from $25M to ~500MM. Strong deal flow because our Senior MDs were well respected at their previous firms and have staked out a niche to operate in. 

Comp is ~20% haircut to street for base (this is after the recent raises and we don't have comp discussions until year end), but my full year bonus would've been over 100% last year (was a stub since I started summer 2020).

Hours are slightly better than other banks, I guess, with an average of ~70 hours a week but can get up to 90+ when shit needs to get done.

Hope this helps

 

In LA and went to a west coast target (UCLA/USC/Stan/UCB).  Most LA boutiques and LMM shops recruit after the BB/EBs have wrapped up to scoop up kids who didn't land an SA position and that happened to be the position I found myself in junior year. Found them through a post in the career center and applied through that, then the normal process of interviewing, super day, SA stint, FT return offer.

 

Probably because they are in different phases, or because there are more senior people who can also handle some of the workloads. I'm the youngest and least experienced on some of the deals that I am working on, but since I have associates also making slides we can process decks and produce material quickly. Similarly, you will meet analysts that are staffed on 7-8 deals at once, but that does not necessarily translate into 160-hour weeks.

I don't know... Yeah. Almost definitely yes.
 

Work at a lower MM micro boutique (typically $1-$25mm EBITDA) in a tier 2 city. Comp is way below street but everyone at the firm (even the founder/MD) is paid the same. There is high upside for sourcing/leading deals that close, so it sucks for now but I'll still get at least a 50% bonus at the end of the year. Culture and WLB are top notch as it is a great and supportive atmosphere with 50 hours a week. 

 

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