Should I stay in PE or move to IB?

Hello Everyone,

I’m wanting advice as to whether I should stay in my current private equity analyst role or move to investment banking.

Here’s the scenario. I have a current analyst role in my hometown, it’s not a large town whatsoever, it’s a capital of a Midwestern state. So a smaller city for sure, in the range of 300k - 1,000k if the include the larger metro area.

I also have an offer to work in a major finance city (NY, LA, Boston) for a decent sized lower-MM bank (think Stifel, RJ, etc.)

The offer from the investment bank is definitely up-market, considering my current PE fund is ~$200m in total funds.

The pe culture here is great, ~55 hour work weeks, reasonable comp, and get to sit in on really awesome calls with entrepreneurs and listen to them tell their story. I really love it it’s awesome. But also, bigger IB offers so many exit opps and is a great experience in terms of training, etc.

What do people think would be the better opportunity? I also know that it comes down to what you value. If you want better exit ops, go for the decent sized IB shop in one of the major cities. Although the PE shop does have a great rep, just not sure whether it would work for exit opps, for example you could leave the MM bank for a big pe fund in a major city, but could you leave the small pe fund in a non-major city for a big pe fund in a major city?

Plus I think having at least a full-year of IB experience would be very valuable.

Thoughts?

8 Comments
 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

Go to NYC if you can, but it seems like you're pretty set right now if you don't want to switch.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
JustHereToGetBy

You think? NYC COL honestly isn't even worth it anymore my man.

I would move there right now if I could. I love NYC.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Really? Yeah I mean I’ve thought about it but also idk, that COL is horrible plus I don’t have any friends/family whatsoever in that city

 

Consequatur quo aliquid et sit similique iure. Saepe ab et et qui eaque.

Aliquam quibusdam dolores nulla iste. Numquam voluptatem maiores ut minima autem consequatur omnis eos. Nostrum minima aspernatur voluptatum omnis. Tempore ipsam corporis sunt omnis rerum. Culpa vel et sapiente magni adipisci natus dolores.

Tempore voluptas incidunt quae. Eveniet et perferendis possimus accusamus tenetur voluptatem.

Ullam dolores quia voluptatem modi et recusandae. Delectus nihil assumenda incidunt magnam accusamus. Eos odit aut voluptatem iste non minima odit. Amet at dolores soluta debitis voluptate rerum optio. Quia qui voluptas qui nostrum sed rerum veritatis explicabo.

 
Most Helpful

Et et suscipit illo nihil voluptatem doloremque nobis. Illo soluta non magnam explicabo eum est.

Quidem eos dolores necessitatibus necessitatibus voluptas sit dolorem dolore. Sit libero aut soluta officia culpa cumque. Odit et nobis voluptatum dolor veniam dolores. Facilis corporis minus inventore nihil in dolor.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Private Equity

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

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 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

September 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (100) $364
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (273) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (356) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”