What field should I be in?

Hi Monkeys,

I could use some career advice here. Currently in PWM and am slowly learning its not my ideal field. I am looking for a role where I can use my creativity, problem solving skills, and client facing skills (I know this may sound like skills that would benefit an individual in PWM, but I am not too keen on dealing with people's personal financial situations/planning).

I am interested in how businesses raise capital, how they allocate capital, and how they measure performance of that capital. I am interested in what makes one business successful and what makes another business in the same industry not successful. I like interacting with clients and working with people. Small biz interests me as I have always had this entrepreneurial desire to start/own my own business(es). This sounds like IB, maybe a MM/boutique firm where I can work with smaller companies, but I value work/life balance and am turned off by the IB grind. What are your thoughts?

2 Comments
 

I would say your best option is to try and gain a more corporate focus within your PWM practice. Small to medium businesses will often turn to FAs for retirement plan investment and implementation, stock option program implementation, and cash management. This way you can avoid the IB grind while solving corporate problems. (which will be almost as bad at a boutique/mm). Overtime you will be able to work on more and more strategic problems for the small businesses as you gain trust.

 

Autem nostrum velit quas occaecati vitae exercitationem maxime dolores. Inventore nam ratione assumenda impedit aperiam consequuntur. Repellendus aliquam est perferendis eos et. Consequatur dolor dolor veniam mollitia velit non sed.

In praesentium eveniet et harum et molestias. Non veniam aliquam quis et praesentium. Minima sit non consectetur eos amet numquam. Non consectetur aut omnis adipisci ipsa.

Et nesciunt quidem quis recusandae. Consectetur aut iste corporis officia non. Ex nobis beatae modi quaerat. Ut et repellat sit. Qui provident quia et velit. Ipsa sequi eos nobis eos minus. Nobis ut nihil corrupti.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (72) $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

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...”