34 Comments
 

If you're mainly solving for optionality down the line, M&A most likely wins.

But if you have a genuine interest in Secondaries and don't mind specializing early, Secondary Advisory is a phenomenal place to be atm

Especially the teams at EBs are fantastic: Better WLB than the Coverage teams, excellent pay across all levels, and high dealflow in a continuously growing and evolving asset class.

 
Most Helpful

Coming from someone who worked sell side secondaries at an EB mentioned earlier.

My only concern there was exit ops on the buyside remain limited to secondary funds. But otherwise, on the sell side comps at top firms can be higher than M&A with lower hours. My firm is attracting some talent from top BB M&A (their best talent btw). 

Pros

1. Growth is way higger than primaries or any other part of the market 

2. Shorter path to partnership

3. Wlb

Cons

1. Exit opa

Feel free to message to get a junior's perspective of secondaries in London

 

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