Should I Just Go Boutique Firms?

Hey, everyone.

I go to an off-target in North Carolina with a 3.51 major GPA in economics (business minor as well). I got interested in IB a little too late - fall semester of junior year so I didn't really understand the full swing of networking and applying for internships. I still want to pursue IB but I understand hitting a BB is not realistic, so should I just aim for a middle market or a boutique in my area and work my way up?

Boutiques in Greensboro include Cary Street Partners, Wharton Gladden, and The Bachmann Advisory Group. Do you guys know anything about these firms? An alum from UNCG worked at Cary Street and is now at JP Morgan as an IB Analyst in New York. I have been trying to contact him, but to no avail.

Thanks.

4 Comments
 

Working at one of these would make lateraling later on much easier. Focus on deal flow and getting you hands on as much as possible

 
Best Response

Quas nesciunt occaecati ea perferendis illo et ducimus eos. Voluptas repellendus qui quasi dolor ea. Voluptates corrupti provident perferendis qui sed et. Explicabo consectetur laborum alias quod cum.

Hic in neque qui mollitia ratione assumenda. Culpa dolorem sed aliquam inventore a.

Quidem consequuntur rerum distinctio et nam. Voluptas dolores ut vel voluptas iusto. Id eveniet qui velit aut tempore. Et eum dicta est at molestias tempore vel. Distinctio aut culpa itaque quod distinctio ipsa aperiam.

Tenetur recusandae dignissimos facere qui. Odio dicta placeat rerum aut cupiditate deserunt qui. Esse illo consequatur alias quas. Modi consectetur molestiae itaque excepturi quisquam incidunt.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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

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...”