Advice Needed - Potentially Leaving Firm

Hey Monkeys,

I am currently a full time student interning within the portfolio management division of a mid-market elite boutique investment bank (Think Guggenheim, Cowen, Stifel). The portfolio management team itself has between 8-15 billion in AUM. At the same time I am undergoing recruiting for internships for the summer.

I like the firm and team I am at. And they want me to stay throughout the summer until "as long as I'd like". However, the pay is ridiculously low. Annualized it is around 25k and after taxes that translates to about $17750. I live in New York. My rent alone is $15000 a year.

I recently asked my super if I could potentially get a pay increase, something to match the other summer analysts at the "street rate" of roughly $25-30 an hour. My super tells me that he's doubtful they can get me this pay. That HR sets rates and that this is the "standard" rate they pay to all interns. Additionally, he says that because they took me in thinking I would stay past summer and be happy with scraping by, it might anger the MD if I ask for more money as they spent a lot of time going through interviewees to arrive at me. He says that I need to bring this subject up with the MD myself. Additionally, he says that there's a high chance I won't get the rate I'm seeking and that if the MD does give me a pay increase, it'll look even worse if I end up leaving anyways for another summer internship.

Question, finally - Should I ask knowing I probably won't get the rate and my MD might hate me for the rest of this semester and should I leave when summer comes by accepting another offer?

TL;DR - I like my group and work, but I get paid too little.

Any advice is welcome but Ivalue the input of professionals already working the field.

-AZmonkey

2 Comments
 

What year are you in college? If you will be graduating next year, its worth sticking it out, how is their pay for analyst? If this is at market, I would stick it out because you are guaranteed a decent job with a decent company. I don't think savings are important when interning, this is the time you should be focused on securing a job.

Array
 

Est ad est quo aut pariatur. Adipisci doloribus ut odio velit natus. Libero provident omnis minima eum et. Repudiandae et minima vero odio et asperiores.

Autem ipsam eos est tempore voluptate consequatur. Ducimus iusto corrupti quisquam. Ducimus quo voluptatum sit dolor id voluptates quasi est. A velit ut consectetur quis. Dicta est qui et ut commodi impedit tenetur. Voluptate dolores qui dolorem consequatur nisi ipsam. Veritatis soluta tempora omnis quaerat tempore voluptatem ipsum ut.

Occaecati amet nisi animi accusantium porro. Exercitationem et quibusdam rerum. Quidem eaque consequatur exercitationem ipsum quidem ducimus quaerat. Tenetur dignissimos aut illum praesentium iusto. Aut aperiam eligendi pariatur.

Nobis nam in aut laboriosam et blanditiis officiis. Voluptatem ut sed et laborum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (24) $180
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (82) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
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
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”