Pretty sure I’m screwed
Senior banking role, but not MD. I’m rapidly approaching 40 and though I get solid reviews / top bonuses every year except for 2008 and probably this year, and told MD path is obtainable. I’ve pushed and heard ‘just need one more year’ for the past 3. No one has mentioned ‘polish’ or ‘technicals’ or simply ‘you’re not liked’. And at my firm, they would and have to others.
I’m not starting to think I’m behind / won’t ever make it, I’m about sure of it. Our firm has MDs 5+ years my junior with less total work experience. If I were the head of a group looking to cut costs, I’d probably take a serious look at a person like me to ‘rationalize’.
Anyone been in a similar situation? How’d you navigate? Or even as simple as how’d you come to terms with it? Can’t help but feel somewhat stuck given my age without taking a massive step back in career or comp.
I have not personally dealt with this situation but two of my buddies who did long-term banking did. I think the challenge here is that every circumstance is truly different because the MD promote has an element of politics and subjectivity that is different in each group. My first friend was stuck at the director / svp level due to a combination of not bringing in enough fees or not being seen as having the potential to bring in enough fees to overcome a combination of too many MDs already, low growth sector and not being liked by the decision makers. He eventually lateralled and had to put in a few more years but eventually got the MD promote. My other buddy was extremely well liked, paid top bonuses every year, etc. but had to wait years before the MD promote because he did not have those 1 or 2 influential people that he needed to vouch for him. Almost like winning the popular vote but losing the electoral college vote. I think both of them had to figure out what angle they lacked before they decided to either gun it out at the same place or move if MD was the goal. Is it that you lack the electoral college votes, the fee potential, the sector in general, etc.? But if you are getting paid handsomely still I assume you are still seen as valuable. Then again, on the flip side, I have seen some regret making MD from a comp perspective as MD comp is tied to fee generation so a lot of cases where directors or svps end up getting paid more than certain MDs.
Can you touch on this more in detail? I thought directors are also comp’d based on their fee generation since it’s the next logical step to MD.
It depends on the firm and group and one of the reasons why it is hard to give uniform advice at the director level. At BBs, there are often directors who have zero fee generation and are pretty much focused on execution for top MDs. These directors are still able to make great money and even make MD as an execution MD if they are lucky. The fees attached to these directors are from the deals they work on even if they are not the primary relationship. In other groups or maybe at boutiques or MM firms, directors seem to generally have more pressure to directly originate deals or show a potential to do so. Not saying that is not the case for BBs but just sharing what I see in general.
They don't promote you because they feel like they don't need to. They figure if you could have had MD elsewhere, you would have jumped ship. They'll probably give it to you once you give them 2w notice.
If you’ve been in IB for 15+ years and you’re still a VP, I find it hard to believe all your reviews have been great.
I would ratchet down living expenses and think through exit paths.
SVP. That’s equivalent Director level at our shop aka right below MD.
I get that - but even if you’re a direct promote and did 3 years as each An, As, VP, that implies 6 years at current title?
If you’re worried about the comp step down, can hold on as long as you can, but I agree with you that I’d be concerned.
MacCap? If so I’ve heard it’s impossible without blessing from Silvo
Your title implies you are in coverage, so have you been developing your own roster of clients? Personally, if I were in your shoes, I would have a direct conversation to know what the firm expects out of you to promote you to junior MD. At most firms, you would be expected to start bringing in some (even if a modest amount) of fees, but there are exceptions and some individuals with strong execution skills are given a few years to build a book. If the firm remains vague on expectations, then it seems like they may be trying to kick the can down the road as long as possible.
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