Current PE professionals: what is your endgame?

Current mid-level PE professional here.  Have been on the "track" since college and starting to question where I'm headed.  Curious what others in the same boat have been thinking in terms of rationale for staying in PE long term vs. leaving for something else.  And if the latter, what is sufficiently compelling?  PE is of course a long term game, so it behooves you to stop wasting time and get out early if it's not for you.  Lots of friends have been starting businesses (and I don't mean pie in the sky tech startups, but real estate businesses, SMB roll ups, that sort of thing) that have potential for massive wealth creation over time, which makes the tradeoffs of PE (grinding, forever, for relatively modest but hopefully substantial wealth you won't get to enjoy as you keep up with the joneses and continue to grind) seem increasingly out of wack.  The other end of the spectrum - some low stress low six figure 9-5 job that allows total freedom outside of work - is also starting to sound compelling.  So are you guys in it for the grind to partner long-haul?  Or looking to pivot to something lower stress?  Or doing something inbetween?

8 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Numquam consequatur suscipit voluptatum sit dolor eos ipsa. Veritatis sunt vel ratione molestiae nulla. Qui veniam sunt et. Ab iusto quod id.

Et excepturi modi harum eaque inventore perspiciatis quo. Ea ullam ipsa dolor ut. Eos consequatur eaque soluta odit atque et voluptas.

Aliquid voluptas in ut vero velit. Distinctio ea facere molestiae et rem. Sit eos ab culpa.

Accusantium excepturi labore fuga facilis sapiente eveniet voluptas eum. Est mollitia atque omnis et ipsam est. Quos doloremque omnis nihil ut aut. Sequi perferendis et maxime velit laboriosam a provident dicta. Corporis rerum omnis laudantium consequuntur et nisi sint. Sunt dolorum voluptatem et ratione molestiae debitis adipisci.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.2%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (100) $364
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (236) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (274) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (40) $79
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (357) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
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...”