LA is amazing

So I’m a 2nd year analyst in SF and just spent the weekend of the 4th in LA with some friends. My god there is no comparison, the women in LA out and about make SF look like a parody. The shopping experience is also leaps and bounds above anything SF has to offer. Asian food in SF is very good and there is good Italian but LA has everything. It’s also warmer and the beaches (Santa Monica and Malibu are perfect). I think I’m done recruiting SF PE, time to aim for LA or bust. 

26 Comments
 

Nice 

"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
 

JamieP123123

have you spent much time? The talent is insane

I haven't, but looking to possibly move there next year. I'm pretty excited.

"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
 

Idk went to college in LA and live and worked there a few years post grad. Was nice in terms of taking weekend trips to Mammoth to go skiing, surfing as much as possible, and plenty of golf courses. Went all over was always going to Malibu, Griffith Park to surf, West Hollywood, Downton. Definitely a lot of fun but after a while gets boring - everyone goes to the same bars and after a while you get tired of being stuck in traffic. I would never let driving deter me from getting to another side of town but after a while it gets to you. That said from SF originally and definitely a lot better in terms of nightlife etc. Left LA for NYC and don't miss it at all

 
qwertyuij

Just out of curiosity as someone dealing with a similar predicament, what makes you enjoy NYC so much more? Obviously costs are much higher but did you already have an established friend group or network in the city? Or were you more so just tired of LA having gone to school in the area? Thanks

I've been to hundreds of cities in 23 countries and there is nothing like NYC

"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
 

Think it was a combination of going to school in the area and the fact that it is a slower pace of life and different priorities. Not saying work should be your entire life but don't think there is that strong of networking in terms of finance and in a way is almost looked down upon to work in that industry. Restaurants even on weekends close before 9PM and bars closed at 2AM (usually a bit earlier). After a while it gets boring and the fact you have to drive everywhere or take a long Uber at night started getting annoying. When I moved from SF to LA  definitely noticed a culture shift, especially in the people which is expected moving to any different city. Not saying everyone is like this, but it is very sceny and people try to live or pretend to live the Hollywood and Beverly Hills lifestyle. Food honestly kind of sucks, most of the nicer restaurants are really only busy so people can say they eat there or take a picture and throw it on the gram. The coastal parts like Malibu, Santa Monica, Manhattan beach are cool if you like to surf / go to the beach but thats about it.

In NY there is forced interaction as you are walking everywhere and taking the subway. Love the fact can exit my building and just walk everywhere instead of getting in my car just to get anywhere. Lived in Brentwood in LA which was a nice area but still had to drive everywhere. Pace of NY is just so much better in my opinion and can never run out of things to do, everything is open late, people are out Monday - Sunday, lot of like minded people, easy travel to Europe, and as people mentioned so easy to meet people. It is also nice that in NY most people are dressed pretty well all the time even when it is something like getting coffee or groceries. It's something small but it is nice that people care about how they present themselves where in LA go places and people are in those garbage oversized streetwear hoodies etc. Sure girls are hotter in LA than SF but in all honesty that is not saying much. Had no issue dating / going out in LA but a lot of them lack substance (obviously not all) and care about the scene. In NY the girls are way better than LA and also have brains which I think is huge. In a way, feels like you are back in college since there are girls in their twenties absolutely everywhere and you interact with them daily. Literally fall in love like five times a day. 

To you other comment, moved in my mid-twenties and didn't really know many people but have no issue. Do things related to your hobbies / download Hinge and just go on dates and go out 1-2 times a week good excuse to get drinks at places you want to go. Also, it is is so normal to go out get drinks or dinner on your own and just enjoy the crowd. If you did that in LA people would probably think something is wrong with you.

 

I'm in LA/Santa Monica right now for work. Where the heck are all the hot girls? Hardly any at the airport (much hotter girls at BWI, which is astonishing), very few in Santa Monica. The Trader Joe's in Arlington, Virginia is like a supermodel hub; I go to a (the?) Trader Joe's in Santa Monica and it looks Third World. Do we have to go to expensive clubs to find attractive women here? My God.

That said, the weather is insane--feels like mid-September weather in July. 

 

Occaecati ut sit perferendis. Perferendis atque quam nihil harum excepturi velit harum quam. Vitae fugiat rerum nisi rerum qui suscipit.

Qui totam repellat aut sint eius modi perspiciatis. Dolore eos molestiae reiciendis et est ullam. Harum non vero rerum sapiente fuga.

Mollitia omnis sit tempora qui voluptatem id debitis. Nulla consequatur sunt vel dolorem dolores ab. Consequatur praesentium quo est dolor. Minus animi similique laborum neque harum repellendus atque minima.

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 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 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 (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
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...”