Asset Management vs IBD out of undergrad

I know there are a few posts on this but I noticed the OP always seems to be leaning towards one or the other but I did a couple of spring weeks in both fields and to be honest I enjoyed both equally and I think I could excel in both. So now I’m thinking about which is better to pursue out of undergrad.

Of course, I am still very young so I was planning to just see where I end up by applying widely for 2025 SA positions soon which is a gateway to FT positions. My application decision is pretty easy for elite boutiques and asset management firms but for bulge brackets that have an IBD division and Asset Management branch, I’m at a crossroad.


There seems to be a consensus on here though that IBD in a BB can be quite miserable and burnout is more likely which I've heard from people in other divisions but the people I've spoken to in IBD seem to like it. I once asked a portfolio manager if he would recommend IB to his kids and he said no haha

 

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