Hey WSO! hosting a quick Q&A. I'm currently an Analyst 3 at a Boutique firm with 2.5 years in IB
Brief background:
• Path: non-target bachelors —> target masters —> MM IB —> Boutique IB
• Focus: Generalist M&A
• Typical work: models, pitchbooks, roadshows, client engagement
• Current priorities: get more deals completed!
I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.
Please leave your questions below.
| +271 | Earliest you can get fired | 58 | 23h |
| +239 | Investment Banking is Divine | 40 | 20h |
| +223 | Career Crossroads | 31 | 1d |
| +213 | US 2027 SA IB worried about background check | 53 | 16h |
| +213 | Another $115bn Mega deal for these banks. Congrats! | 45 | 20h |
| +206 | Analyst: Why is UBS IB doing worse than peers?, UBS CFO: No Comment | 41 | 1d |
| +127 | Is UBS really that bad? | 38 | 19h |
| +40 | Is Houston SA 28 recruiting already over? | 34 | 5h |
| +26 | 2026-27 IB Energy Top Banks | 8 | 23h |
| +24 | FIG Pigeonholes you - is it true? | 8 | 1d |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Why the move to a boutique? Pay? Culture?
I am thinking of doing a similar move.
Mostly culture, team I was in before was very toxic whilst the boutique I’m now at is much better. Always best to speak to people who are / were at a boutique though as I’ve heard culture can differ enormously
What is your WLB like, vs pay ? Very curious - as I am in a similar spot.
WLB I’d say has improved slightly, but that’s just because you spend less time on BD and more on actual deal work. It’s more exposed though, so more ownership which has been great for my development, but that also means any screw ups are very visible
mostly pay and exits lmao
Hey im applying for masters next year, which ones would you say are the most “targeted” towards IB specifically in london.
All the main London unis are good, oxbridge, Warwick etc too. TBH outside of BB recruiting I’ve found it matters less in the mid market, it’s more about smashing technicals and really getting a feel of what IB is, as opposed to what it looks like on paper
High schooler here wanting to work in IB in the future. We all know breaking into a BB/EB is insanely competitive, but how about MMs and boutiques? Given you’re at a target/semi-target and make it your life’s nr 1 goal, how likely are you to succeed?
I don’t think you need to go that tunnel vision on it, if anything I regret being so focussed on IB that I didn’t properly consider other parts of finance that can lead to IB / PE down the line. It’s good to have an idea of what you want to do, but I’d say it’s best to be flexible on your first roles to go towards somewhere you want to end up. Equity research, corp development etc are frowned upon in these forums but I know some great guys who are getting some serious offers in those roles
Repellendus qui assumenda et recusandae itaque recusandae est. Facere voluptas similique amet aut. Aliquam sapiente voluptatem animi eligendi iure itaque quisquam. Et deleniti cum et accusantium quasi. Qui temporibus eum explicabo dolores.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...