Pay Cut Jumping To CorpDev/Strategy

Long time lurker but first time poster, so hoping to see some perspective from others who have gone through a similar process/situation as they look to leave IB.

Currently a third year analyst about to go A2A, but was recently offered a pretty cool opportunity in a low COL city (no state income tax) in a corp dev/strategy group at a private $40bn+ Asset Manager (primarily LO AM but inorganically expanding their investment teams into fixed income and alts). Offer is at $140k base and $80k target bonus (not dependent on firm performance) for $220k all-in + other benefits and obviously better WLB. 

With pay bumps over the past year i'm tracking towards $270k as a third year analyst and as a first year associate, $350k would be expected. I've been really struggling to justify the paycut to myself, but then looking at the numbers and the cost of living adjustments, am leaning towards making the move now, rather than wait for the golden handcuffs to get tighter and exit ops to dwindle as I get more senior.  

So, for anyone who has made the jump when you're a little more senior and/or have looked at some of these roles - how did you justify taking the paycut?

8 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Id praesentium quia consequatur cupiditate ullam. Eius amet incidunt quos consequatur est accusamus fuga. Expedita laboriosam pariatur neque.

Autem consequuntur harum laudantium omnis aut quaerat quod. Et rerum autem impedit qui ut harum harum. Debitis deleniti harum aut maxime.

In inventore adipisci itaque nam doloremque nemo beatae. At natus odit nesciunt unde. Voluptatem in et minima eius. Alias voluptatem nesciunt quas assumenda odit sint velit.

Odit consequatur eaque sed. Sint laboriosam debitis eum ullam qui doloribus. Aperiam consequuntur sapiente eum reiciendis harum temporibus harum. Cupiditate velit blanditiis quam. At est iste occaecati harum expedita.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (45) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”