Moving to PE too early

Hello monkeys, hoping to get some advice regarding career moves (RE focused but anyone welcome).

Currently working for an in-house developer and we have no deal flow. Long-term goal is the typical acquisition seat in a pe-fund and I have opportunities as funds gear up to buy distressed or reversionary assets so making the jump is doable now and in the future. While we have no deal flow, we do look at a lot of opportunities and my role is expanding beyond UK to central Europe (hello Poland).

My dilemna is I trust my boss and he said to stay put for now. I had a very candid conversation with him about being bored and my aspirations and he said I am young and to enjoy this while it lasts. He goes out of his way to make sure I network more than my peers so career-wise he is making sure I am still progressing. He says if I stay another year he will help me land a spot. He has also reached out to give me higher discretionary bonuses. Point being - I trust him. But relationships are only great if I move to a shop that lets me originate or once I am 50 and can run a fund.

Question for the monkeys, has anyone moved to PE and thought they moved too early? Am I being naive trusting my boss? I feel like a career is long and spending another year isn't the end of the world but I don't want to waste my time and recruit for the same positions in a year's time as I could now.

2 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Acquisitions side for an LP here. Idk why you would want to move from that relationship but sure it’s worth networking/developing warm leads into PE should that be your ultimate goal. Be warned, it’s pretty slow on our end and I find myself mainly bidding 15-20% below guidance on the few active deals or helping asset management in this environment, so not exactly a fast-paced climate.

As a side note, you will have a “relatively easier time” moving up the ladder and running a small development shop than vice versa with PE. The amount of capital to kick off a PE fund is multiples that of a GP fund given the strategies and nature of the two. 

 

Aperiam occaecati dicta unde nobis doloremque. Labore et reiciendis quia adipisci delectus. Reprehenderit minus illum doloribus. Non non occaecati eaque commodi quia consectetur eligendi.

Id voluptatem aut et excepturi corrupti vero cum. Voluptatem nesciunt ipsa qui rerum autem natus impedit vero. Sint provident optio dignissimos est ullam ipsam esse itaque. Ducimus aperiam aut et repellat voluptatem. Reprehenderit voluptatum natus hic nesciunt. Facilis dolore inventore adipisci magnam officiis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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

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...”