Advice from a seasoned financier and politician

My background:

Went to a private high school (one of the best in the world), then Oxbridge for a liberal arts course (Classics, PPE, History, Philosophy). Then onto an EB, then a Rhodes Scholar, then MBB then W, then PE MF. Now a senator/MP/equivalent in a G7 country.

1 - School matters a LOT. It stays with you your entire life. Don't trust rankings or "brand name". For example, a Dartmouth kid has more resources than a Harvard geek. Undergraduate school is more important than your MBA alma mater.

2 - IBD is not prestigious (unless it's Rothschild/CVP/PJT).

3 - Imperial/MIT/CMU/Stanford/UCB kids get dinged a LOT. The old boys in politics and finance don't like nerds.

4 - If your dad was a blue collar pleb, kiss politics or ivory tower finance goodbye.

8 Comments
 
Prestigiouslndividual

My background:

Went to a private high school (one of the best in the world), then Oxbridge for a liberal arts course (Classics, PPE, History, Philosophy). Then onto an EB, then a Rhodes Scholar, then MBB then W, then PE MF. Now a senator/MP/equivalent in a G7 country.

1 - School matters a LOT. It stays with you your entire life. Don't trust rankings or "brand name". For example, a Dartmouth kid has more resources than a Harvard geek. Undergraduate school is more important than your MBA alma mater.

2 - IBD is not prestigious (unless it's Rothschild/CVP/PJT).

3 - Imperial/MIT/CMU/Stanford/UCB kids get dinged a LOT. The old boys in politics and finance don't like nerds.

4 - If your dad was a blue collar pleb, kiss politics or ivory tower finance goodbye.

With regard to IBD (#2) why Rothschild/CVP/PJT? 

 

Hi,

Many thanks for the post. Very glad someone as prestigious as you is here to help those of us interested in the classic 2+2+20 track. Just curiously, could you please help me contextualise the following exits with regard to comp, culture, prestige, prestige and prestige:

  1. Getting prostitutes to piss on each other in a Russian hotel room?
  1. Fucking a pigs head? (Do I need to start networking with the Bullingdon club now?)
  1. Throwing Bunga Bunga parties at the tax payer’s expense?

Many thanks!

 

First of all they are old in 10 years or so those MIT/imperial/Stanford/berk boys will take over the world

 

Delectus id veniam alias sed quam. Ipsa doloremque voluptas doloremque ut. Nostrum debitis maiores magnam. Voluptatem laborum ea facilis mollitia. Maiores et odit illo illo.

Natus aliquid ad corporis laboriosam qui aut dolores. Dolores quia est dolores. Ex exercitationem et et minus sapiente facere.

Nobis est voluptatibus eos aperiam molestiae illo. Ducimus tempore vitae qui error est.

Eos numquam fugiat quia non numquam. Ut quia beatae sed ut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Ardian 98.9%
  • Blackstone Group 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (97) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (234) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (95) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (271) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (37) $80
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (351) $61
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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”