PE IR/Fundraising

Fundraiser here.

1) The work is entirely different. Client solutions is a sales role where your day is filled with meetings, calls, emails, etc. PM is entirely task based work that can feel like homework assignments if you don't love it. DDQs, decks, strategy work, prepping sales people. Upside on sales side is higher (you're paid on how much you close) but also not a consistent upwards trajectory. You can kill it one year and get crushed the next. In PM, you generally always make more YoY. 

2) At placement agents (LAZ, EVR, PJT, etc.), pay is in-line or greater than M&A. If you go in-house, hugely dependent on the kind of fund you join (at funds for Assoc 1, have seen range from 220k all-in to 350k all-in). Not always related to fund size. Have found that publicly listed managers pay capital formation more $ because it's directly linked to public earnings

3) hugely dependent on shop, but typically always better than M&A. If you are in sales, you don't work past 6 or 7 because you can't bother LPs at night. Typically very predictable hours (you know when you're gonna get crushed). 

4) In fundraising, you have immediate / direct access to the most senior world class investors from analyst 1.