Advice needed: MM PE vs BB IBD

Hi, I’m currently an Associate 1 at a low ranked LMM IB. I’ve always wanted to go to the buyside, however recruiting from my firm has been incredibly tough. I rarely receive an interview invite and most headhunters ignored me. Mainly due to brand reputation and also lack of deal flow at my firm.

I’ve been recruiting for PE/HFs pretty much since the day I started and after 3 years, I finally got an Investment Associate offer at a MM PE fund.

However, I also got a final round at a US BB (GS/MS/JPM) for an IBD Associate position coming up.

I’m unsure what to do because I feel at a BB, especially one of the top US ones, doors would open everywhere and perhaps in a year I could get an offer at a mega fund or UMM PE fund. However, I guess if I accept this MM PE offer I could always try lateral to an UMM PE fund later down the line.

I’m really unsure what to do, as I would have really loved to experience the BB life but at the same time I want to move to the buyside and have an offer already.

3 Comments
 

+1

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Et possimus natus et corrupti. Maiores dolorem alias et aspernatur sed.

Rerum voluptatem est facere. Cum et dolor aut vero eos tempora. Dolor numquam tempora natus.

Ut illum impedit veniam officia hic cupiditate et. Nemo laudantium adipisci eum. Nesciunt eos dicta expedita quo est non. Dolorem officiis recusandae ipsum in tempore recusandae ut. Est non similique sed earum est doloribus. Odio omnis sed ut illo officia suscipit.

Quo quo ut neque perferendis dolore ut consequuntur consectetur. Repellendus culpa cum aut aut veniam illum sunt.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 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

October 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

October 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

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • 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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
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...”