What are your guys' opinions on doing Investment Banking in Canada? Pros/Cons?

Hey all

Incoming Summer Associate at one of the Canadian super BB's. Can anyone give color as to their experience in Canada / eventually matriculating into the United States? Thx

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I’m from Canada so hear my perspective.

Deal flow and market share is obviously dominated by the Big 5 banks. US banks here are mostly satellite offices and are extremely competitive to get to but deal flow likely won’t be as good as the Big 5. PE exits don’t pay as well as IB like they would in the US so the banks here are willing to shell out cash to retain talent.

Recruiting in Canada - I will use Toronto as this example - is not as structured as the US. They usually take guys out of undergrad/Big4 laterals. MBA recruiting in Canada is awful for IB, unlike the US where MBAs hold weight so imo doing an MBA to get a second try at IB is stupid and it likely won’t work.

As you get more senior in IB in Canada, spots become more limited and so does job security. Remember how I mentioned how PE in Canada doesn’t pay as well as IB like the US (except for ONEX or maybe the pensions), a lot of these guys like to stay in IB because they know they won’t be able to make those salaries elsewhere. So unlike the US you have a lot less options and as job security decreases as you get more senior you’re betting at that point you’re going up and not out.

All in all, it pays well in Canada but it’s not going to make you become a rainmaker.

  • my father worked in IB till his mid 30s, left IB to start a company, and many of his colleagues who did very well did the same. They ended up earning more than they would’ve as a MD. Canada isn’t a very entrepreneurial country, and that’s what’s needed here. If you want to do IB do it in the US - go big or go home - albeit, an MD on Wall Street isn’t taking home that much or driving a Ferrari when you consider all his expenses, private schools, family, retirement savings, taxes, insurance, travelling, etc.
 

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