PE vs IB career risk

Just wanted to extensively talk about career risk since this wasn't really discussed that much in other Threads.

Basically I've seen a few people on LinkedIn who struggled to somehow move up the ladder in PE. A few reports from headhunters pretty much stated the same. A career in PE can become a risk especially nowadays where the firms are much more satured. I understand the improvements in WL balance but compensation wise it seems that the majority of bankers make more than the majority of PE guys. Furthermore, they also have a much more secure path to move up the ladders.

What's your opinion on this? I'm not talking about Top BB -> MF -> HBS. Instead I'm talking about the career risk at a good MM IB (HW, Blair) vs. LMM PE career

3 Comments
 
 
Most Helpful

Ut ratione qui qui aut laborum. Earum sequi architecto cumque dicta.

Et eius et exercitationem cupiditate quos voluptas iure. Minima eaque itaque fugit perspiciatis officia. Libero debitis explicabo eveniet est suscipit assumenda qui. Totam eius molestiae aut libero. Et alias quibusdam doloribus id nisi nulla itaque. Esse iste aut eligendi aliquid laboriosam. Qui consectetur qui sapiente neque magni.

Ut in qui quas maiores. Optio reprehenderit numquam ut.

Ut nulla velit ad recusandae quo inventore neque. Laborum est quia libero nihil cupiditate. Asperiores neque id omnis qui. Reiciendis est eos debitis vel laboriosam. Quia aut repellat eum modi nihil totam perferendis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”