Wells Fargo SF vs. SF Boutiques (e.g., FT Partners, LionTree, GCA, Union Square)
Wondering how working at WF SF compares to working at boutiques in SF in terms of experience, deal work, ...
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I'd put LionTree a cut above the rest, altho not sure how they'll do this year / next year potentially. FT Partners is strong in its space. I haven't heard of the other two
I’d recommend every boutique that you mentioned above Wells Fargo SF. In fact, I’d probably suggest all of them over Wells Fargo Charlotte as well, especially if you’re interested in TMT. LionTree is more focused on the MT than the T and does most of their work out of their NY office.
As you probably know from choosing this peer group, those boutiques are all pretty comparable. Each of them has their own strength (LionTree for MT, USA for more general tech, FTP for fintech). Personally I’d just rule out Wells Fargo and choose one of the others based on culture and pay
Finally, I’ll add that each of those boutiques either have no reputation if people don’t know about them, or they have a good reputation in the eyes of people who do know about them. Meanwhile, I’d say most people in finance know of Wells Fargo, and it’s not for a stellar reputation. I’m not saying reputation = strength, but it’s something to consider
What are some of the other boutiques in SF that you’d say belong in the same peer group? Seems like you know a bit about boutiques. Thanks
As someone who works at a competitor bank to WF SF, I'd say this answer is somewhat off. I'd rank them as follows:
LionTree: (Pros: incredible media advisory experience, lean teams, great exits, comp) Union Square / GCA (about the same IMO) (Pros: great tech experience, good for vc or corp dev exits, comp, lean teams) WF SF: (Pros: well rounded tech experience working on advisory and cap markets, good hours, street comps, recognizable brand name and solid but not great exits) FT Partners: (Pros: great fintech experience, exits, comp)
Purely anecdotal but I have a classmate that was at Wells SF for a year and a half and didn't close one deal and barely worked on any live deals his entire time there...
Only thing I would change here is that I would definitely consider GCA above Union Square.
Liontree > FTP > USA > WF SF
^this is the guy who just posted last week asking what an excel backup is. WF gives you the best opportunity to lateral to a bulge because, you know, people have actually heard of it.
FT Partners has an awful culture. Pay is good and so are your exits. I'd hate working on micro cap raises all the time though. Fuck that noise
Whaaaa? searched and read about this deal they just did. Seems they are on another level than your post implies. Anyone know how they win this?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkauflin/2020/05/28/payments-startup-ma…
Its the FTP troll again. Do you know @richard_3" btw lol? Reason they won that bid is cuz they do lifetime engagements where they sneakily lock in floundering start-ups
No one mentioned this but WF TMT probably has the best hours in IB in SF, and you will never get yelled at. Not even once.
You have such a generic name...not an insult. I'm sure it's cool to be a Jack. Reminds me of Jack Brown Band. Hehe
Liontree > FTP > GCA > WFS > USA
WF Tech if you wanna pitch for two years
Liontree in a heartbeat
id take all of them over wf
FT Partners is honestly probably one of the most sought after banks on the street. The majority of the incoming class had offers from either Goldman, MS or evercore but turned them down to come to FT. If you don’t believe me look at LinkedIn. The fact people don’t know the prestige this bank carries shows how this board is a breeding ground for brain dead simpletons.
Hey just checked linkedin and don't see that trend at all. Mind pointing out some profiles that reflect current analysts who summered at the BB/ EBs you refer to? Saw two first year analysts worked at GS for their summers but neither was in GS IBD and another who interned at rothschild but thats a MM bank in the US. I do see ppl leaving FTP for UBS, Cowen, JPM, Lazard, and Moelis though and summers who dont return seem to be trading up for DBO, Lazard, and Evercore. Just as an outsider who has never heard of FT Partners until this forum, don't really see it as on the same standing or prestige that you see
This is just a blatant lie. As noted above, it's more common for FTP interns/analysts to lateral to better firms.
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