What’s the appeal of BBs?
Going through recruitment and curious what is the appeal of BBs? I feel like I am constantly hearing bad things about them…
- lower pay
- most have outsourced M&A groups
- less responsibility/opportunity
- not as much focus on culture or close relationships with seniors due to size
Other than exits and brand name, it seems like EBs and some MMs make for a better analyst experience. Am I missing anything?
I mean its hasnt been that appealing for a while now. That said BBs are still fantastic places to start your careers
You answered your own question: exits and brand recognition (having alumni from ur bank at all the big PE’s helps placement im sure).
Would agree on your points as well, currently a second year at a reputable MM and believe I’ve gained way more skills / experience / knowledge during my stint than my friends who’re at BB (even just on a coverage standpoint).
There are also other perks but I’m sure that’s group / bank dependent (I think I’m just spoiled in my group tbh)
I generally agree with you… I started at a BB and wish I had gone to a MM or boutique. The pros for working at a BB largely stem from it being a more “risk averse” option relative to boutiques:
To be clear, I agree with you that the value proposition of working at the lower paying BBs no longer makes sense. The delta in pay between a BB and boutiques is just too large nowadays
Brand recognition is a huge factor which I think makes BB very desirable. No one knows what the fuck CVP is outside of finance but 99% of the people know BofA/Citi. I work at one of the EBs and people outside of finance have no fucking clue what I do nor think that I have a good job. Although it sucks a bit, I think I still would make the same choice of focusing my recruiting efforts on EBs in college. I still can’t imagine getting paid 150k in contrast to 200k - 240k as a first year analyst. For people with rich parents, brand recognition may to be more valued than the extra 50k pre-tax. Still, I think most will choose PWP over BofA/Citi if given both offers.
Most of the talk in here is about lower tier BBs like Citi/BofA/WF. What about BBs like MS/JPM/GS? From what I understand the pay delta isn't crazy significant ($180k pre tax vs $200k) and exit opportunities are basically the same as EBs. Recruiting for both right now and I feel like taking PWP or Moelis over MS/JPM/GS makes no sense, but hoping to be convinced otherwise. Obv Centerview/Qatalyst vs any BB is an easy choice, but I just don't get the mid EBs compared to top BBs
GS/MS comp is shit compared to EBs. I chose a mid-tier EB over one of the shops you mentioned because I wanted to work with smarter people instead of with DEI Beckies at GS/MS/JPM. Also, the experience at EBs seemed better imo.
Then don’t pick PWP or Moelis over MS/JPM/GS…. If you have offers both. Why are you asking strangers to convince you lmao. For SA I would only choose GS classics less NatRes/RE and MS Menlo over Moelis (don’t think PWP is that great a bank) but that is a personal decision due to personal biases.
WF? Wells Fargo isn't a Bulge Bracket.
I think a lot of people (reading and commenting) on this thread aren't discussing one major difference between EB's / MM's vs. BB's.
Work responsibilities: At a BB you often have large deal teams and from what I've heard, the M&A team does a ton of work that makes coverage's job way easier. You also have the advantage of multiple analyst's and associates per deal to cover. Compare this to a EB / MM firm where it is not uncommon (especially on the "smaller" deals) to be the only analyst / associate on a deal. Can't figure out your model bust at 2am when u have to get it to your VP tomorrow first thing in the morning? Looks like you're going to have a long night. Planned ur PTO 3 months out but a client meeting popped up that same day? You're going to have to miss out on whatever you planned to do.
You get the point... generally speaking EB / MM's hours are higher than BB's for this reason. So to any "Incoming Analyst", "Summer Intern" or "Prospect" trying to decide between the two, u need to be real with yourself and figure out your personality type and what you really want. Do you want to be comped top of street and sweat your nuts off just to "Meet expectations" at an EB or do you want to have the strong brand name and the slight pay cut that is associated with it (i.e. the Goldman Discount)? I think a lot of y'all are failing to realize why EB's pay much more than their BB counterparts - because you will be worked like a dog the entire time you're at the firm.
Either way, all BB / EB / MM firms are great places to start your career and you will learn a lot regardless of which route you decide to take.
If your goal is to be a banker long-term (and perhaps it’s not for a lot of folks here), I think being at a BB sets you up better for being a senior banker. There’s fundamentally more space at the top given the broader range of products to sell, meaning more clients available to cover / business to be done at any point in time especially on the financing side (vs only focusing on M&A which has chunkier fees but more concentrated / less frequent). As a mid-level banker / VP level, you’ll get coverage reps earlier and the MDs are more likely to help set you up for your own MD promotion. If your goal is purely to get the most reps on M&A execution and leave after a few years, or maximize early career comp, then yes an EB is the way to go.
I know this forum is largely dominated by folks early in their career or prospects, but it’s important to remember that a career is 30+ years. Even I’m relatively early in mine by that regard. It’s very much a long game, and while it’s often hard to make decisions for 5 or 10 year forward, it’s important to keep a broader perspective
Yeah basically this. Incoming at lesser EB because that's where I placed and while I'm excited about it I understand I will probably have to switch to a BB at some point if I want to realize my intention of becoming a lifer in banking.
Magni explicabo saepe iste quis non et. Impedit numquam quia in consectetur. Perferendis doloribus amet temporibus ipsa quam eligendi. Repudiandae voluptatem eveniet magnam sunt sapiente.
Consequatur tempora fuga cumque cumque. Fuga deserunt nesciunt sit soluta. Ea eveniet aut vel tempore explicabo commodi at. Qui dolorem et modi numquam corrupti.
Vitae numquam corrupti quasi architecto ut natus. In voluptatibus fugiat tenetur non. Magnam quis sunt vitae sit illo. Est maxime maiores aut veniam vel laborum.
Ea officia aut neque quasi et. Sint labore dolor vel possimus autem atque. Ea qui eum exercitationem illo.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...