Should I go back to banking from PE?
Monkeys,
I did it. BB IB -> MM PE -> Promo to VP
Now, if I'm being completely honest with myself, I don't think I want to work in finance for much longer - certainly not long enough for it to be worth staying in PE.
I'm considering going back to banking for ~2 more years to maximize cash comp and then mail it in to start a family and get my life back.
I have put my head down the last 3 years and have been completely off this app. I don't really know how the IB job market and comp have been.
I'm convinced my VPs did like nothing when I was in banking and I could get away with like 80% effort (at least compared to the effort I've given the last 5 years)
1. Am I insane? And
2. How much can a VP 1 in IB reasonably expect to bring in these days? I would not even consider going somewhere that had deferred bonus schemes FWIW
Given the deals I've worked on in PE, my background is probably most attractive for an active MM M&A shop (Baird, Blair, HL, Stifel, etc etc)
TIA
Hear me out, If you are willing to go down market, I think you would be surprised with your background how few hours you could work. Now, I am an associate, so my life sucks because my MD is out the door by 3pm everyday leaving me to clean up the mess.
I outlined below a handful of ways to cut corners as a Director/MD in the Lower Middle Market to reduce your hours (while making your team's life hell).
CIM - No one reads that anyway, have the Analyst and an Intern slap something together in a week and get that out to market. We all know its going to be an Add-on and will demand a "single digit" premium multiple
Buyers List - Fuck it, anyone who takes your call should be on this. Better yet use an automated email blast to hit the market
Model - The Analyst can handle this, all you have to show is a 10% topline growth and Margin expansion over the next 3 years. Who gives a fuck if Capex isn't taken into account, or if any company data was actually used the model
Client Communications - Schlup it over Associate. It will make him better anyways, and as long as you tell them at them at the end of the year they did a good job. you're in the clear.
MPs - Nah, skip these, we all know the real talking is done once you get the LOI
Purchase agreement - "JD Junior" VP is on it. Does he/she have any legal training... no. but they scanned a few contracts in the past and is ready for the job
NWC negotiations - Associate who can barely three statement model can handle that. Besides NWC does not effect EV and hence your fee, so if you are writing ELs right, a literal Monkey can close your deals.
If you cut yourself out of all this that only leaves Pitches, IOIs, LOIs and Funds flow you have to look at. Meaning you only have to be online for maybe 20-30 days per deal. Your life will be heaven in the lower middle market. I'll follow up if my MD implements any more time saving strategies.
As someone who started at a LMM firm, this is hilariously spot on
Hard agree this is so funny
I disagree, I think you underestimate how much you’ll still have to work. I thought VP’s did nothing when I was an analyst too, but now as a VP3 I know that is far from the case. Not saying not worth the move, but my base case if I were you would not be a chill work life balance in any respect
That's so true. Juniors always think you work less and less as you get more senior. Pure illusion.
what are your hours as VP3?
Oh absoluetly, I think if you are good at your job and/or you have bad juniors your life can be hell
Not insane. With your BB + PE background, MM shops will love you. You should be able to coast a bit and still be okay.
Thanks ChatGPT
You’re not crazy. A lot of people in PE realize the tradeoff isn’t worth it long term. If your goal is to stack cash and regain balance, going back to IB for a couple of years at a solid MM makes sense. Just be selective about culture and hours before jumping.
Makes sense to want to maximize cash comp given you don't want to hang around much longer (currently in the same boat hence why I'm planning to thug it out as associate for a few years rather than going to MM PE or something similar to what you did).
FWIW Baird pays 100% cash bonuses.
I've known a few guys go back into banking primarily for the career track. It's more certain that if you are good at your job you will land a long-term high paying gig. Unless you are at an elite PE or catch the partnership at the right time in the cycle it gets pretty jammed up at the top where you get the real carry. I also think that PE background makes it easier to get into the shops with high cash bonuses with less lock-in on deferred and the rest. There are enough "elite boutiques" at this point that pay out annual cash bonuses that it's a reasonable way to go. The whole work life balance thing wasn't even a consideration when I started and its a real thing so I think having a family and banking is more attractive than it was back in the day. It's not as sexy as PE but it's a reasonable path to becoming a self-made multi millionaire.
Career visibility an underrated aspect of
I recently made the same move and have no regrets. I find banking to be less stressful, more career visibility, and cash comp is nice. Work is a little less interesting but it’s a worthwhile tradeoff got me because the interesting part of PE work relies on true ownership which breeds stress.
Career visibility underrated aspect (accidentally replied to other commenter w this)
Can you dig into how you find banking less stressful? Maybe, I work at a bad shop, or am too low on the ladder to feel like I have true freedom.
What’s your current comp in PE if you don’t mind sharing?
Starts with a 4 unfortunately
Have you thought about jumping to the credit side of the house?
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