Bonus Pool?

This is a slightly dumb question, but where does the bonus pool money come from? I understand fees essentially pay salaries and keep the lights on, but where does the bonus pool itself come from? This has me curious because my bonus has basically been my target bonus laid out when I signed on for 4 years now, regardless of the market and activity. Work at an institutional asset manager so not a developer. 

 
Most Helpful

You might get a different answer for brokerage, but the firm earmarks a certain amount for Salaries & Wages from the fee revenue generated, which includes any stipulated bonuses. The ability to participate in any upside beyond the "target" bonus depends on a few factor, but dominantly it's how much do the people with decision-making power like you and could they live without you/easily replace you (which goes back to if they like you). If you work for a rainmaker/rockstar person or team who brings in ton of revenue, the company is more likely to pay out beyond the targeted bonus if your boss pushes the issue. But if you've been there for 4 years and not really giving them a reason to exceed your bonus, then they are not likely to do so. 

 

At a shop like yours, bonuses I garauntee you are almost always factored in with 100% probability on the analyst / associate level, if you're talking about 10-15% bonus ranges.

sometimes there is a trigger point on company profitability that will further increase or decrease the bonus. 

Its really shop dependent, but for analyst/associate its almost always the $ comes from same pool as salaries because its not a significant % of salary. 

 

Sint non cum corrupti assumenda similique porro. Deleniti quaerat deleniti atque eligendi necessitatibus debitis explicabo. Quaerat dolorum nemo qui incidunt nesciunt. Odit quaerat cum quidem animi excepturi at qui. Dolores ad quisquam soluta quo animi non et.

Assumenda et et officia quasi officiis consequatur praesentium debitis. Temporibus dolores sunt qui. Earum consectetur aliquid necessitatibus nobis ut dolorem consectetur.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Lazard Freres No 98.9%
  • Harris Williams & Co. 25 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.9%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 04 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.9%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (21) $373
  • Associates (91) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (68) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Kenny_Powers_CFA's picture
Kenny_Powers_CFA
98.8
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...”