Structured Finance/credit VS CRE lending

Which route would be preferable in the long term? I have the opportunity to transition to a boutique CRE lending role, where the firm manages commingled funds from institutional investors, including a sovereign wealth fund. While CRE has been underperforming recently, it may have reached its bottom, whereas structured finance has been thriving but could now be at its peak.

The timing of such a move is a key consideration. I find the work in CRE lending more engaging, as it involves financial modelling, which I prefer, whereas structured finance is more document-heavy. Furthermore, compensation at the boutique CRE firm is higher, reflecting its smaller, more specialised nature. The boutique has been underperforming in line with the rest of the market while the firm where I am has been doing really well. Would this transition be well-timed given the current market context?

Many thanks.

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