Transaction Advisory Group (HL, D&P, A&M) Question

*Note: I have done some digging and uncovered several topics on the site related to the question, but not a whole lot of definitive content, so posting a new thread. *

I am currently in corporate banking (not corporate finance — basically commercial banking but with large, mostly public clients), and I have been looking to move toward more IB / Advisory / non-balance sheet lending roles. Previously, my plan was to try to direct lateral into CIB at a balance sheet bank or go into debt capital markets / loan s&t as sort of a “path of least resistance;” however, I have recently been introduced to (and been interviewing with) a TA team, principally on the due diligence side of LBOs, sponsor-backed roll-ups, and general M&A deals. The opportunity is non- Big 4 (e.g., as stated in the title, Houlihan Lokey, Duff & Phelps, Alvarez & Marsal, etc.).

Does anyone have opinions or insight to share on TA at these sorts of shops, either as a career path or as a route to corporate finance / IB? Seems like I would be working with a relatively large number of investment bankers, but curious if really solid performing TA guys are looked on favorably for lateraling.

In particular, I’m curious about the compensation at VP level and above remaining in TA, level of exposure to foster connections to move over to IB, and what the general promotion timeline is like. From what I’ve been able to surmise, base salary is fairly comparable to IB, but the bonus structure is ambiguous to me.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!