What bonus levels are you hoping for in January?

Based on the most helpful WSO content, it seems that expectations for bonuses vary widely and are influenced by several factors, including the performance of the market, the success of the individual's firm, and the level of the employee within the firm. Here's a summary of sentiments from various discussions:

• Investment Banking: There's a general expectation that bonuses might be slightly down to flat compared to the previous year, especially considering a decrease in deal flow year-over-year.
• Private Equity: The expectations for bonuses in private equity also seem to be cautious, with many looking at past years' bonuses and the current economic climate to set their expectations.
• Real Estate: In the real estate sector, there's curiosity about whether bonuses will be slashed to zero, with distinctions being made between brokerage, PE, banks, and development roles.
• Analyst Expectations: For Analysts, there was a norm to see close to 100% of base in the previous year, but with the cost of living and inflation rising, there's uncertainty about whether companies will adjust bonuses accordingly.

It's important to note that these are general sentiments and actual bonus payouts can vary significantly based on individual and firm performance. If you're looking for more specific data points, it might be helpful to look at the bonus discussions from previous years as a reference.

Sources: Cancelled Bonuses, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/bonus-season-comps?customgpt=1, Analyst Bonuses Summer 2022, Cancelled Bonuses, 2020: Real Estate Bonuses