Is Debt/Equity Placement At A CBRE, JLL, etc. Still A Good Start As A 1st Year Analyst?

Hey guys,

Wanted to get everyone's opinions on this - considering the current capital market environment, is D/E placement at institutional brokerage still a good start to one's career? At the shop I'm interning at (MetLife/AIG/Nuveen), it seems like there's no need to hire a new acquisitions analyst (given current deal flow), but rather keep new analyst hires on the asset management side  - if I want to work on deals upon graduating, would D/E placement be a better start to a career in CRE? Do you think deal flow will pick up by 2024?

My eventual goal is to become a sponsor, so pay wise in HCOL city, I'd love to clear 90k+, but obviously learning experience is much better. I noticed that on the asset management side, you don't learn much about underwriting and investment rationale behind a deal, hence the question. I'm assuming D/E placement will give you a better picture, but please correct me if I'm wrong as well.

Thank you for your input in advance.

9 Comments
 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

Do you think this would still be better than asset management at a lifeco in terms of practical learning experience in your first 1-3 years? And do you think analysts at a strong team can still clear 100+ in this market?

 
Most Helpful

Yes, if you want to become a GP in the future I'd go for brokerage. You'll build up an invaluable network of lenders, potential co-developers, project consultants, etc. that you can draw on down the line.

That's not to say that you won't learn as much in an AM seat. You'd learn the nitty gritty of operating institutional-grade buildings, but in my opinion, that won't be particularly helpful for teaching you how to structure and close deals in the future.

Can't comment on comp this year, but I can't imagine bonus pools are looking too hot... 

 

Interesting - thank you for the advice. Do you think next year might be better looking at slowing inflation and the election cycle coming up? Heard base for CB/JLL is still in the 75k range which for HCOL city will be tough, assuming analysts are gonna take a good haircut on the bonus. Also, would you then say getting a job at a sponsor shop would be better than D/E placement if you stick with your niche?

 

Quidem praesentium ut fugiat et facere. Libero repudiandae voluptatem debitis ut expedita dolor libero.

Impedit quam aperiam illum eos facere. Suscipit amet officia necessitatibus expedita et dolor nostrum. Aut quia sapiente nemo vel. Occaecati non rerum qui.

Excepturi omnis et nesciunt laboriosam perferendis. Impedit nam totam ratione dolorem illum. Illo cumque sit ducimus rerum quod. Perferendis molestiae in quia blanditiis est. Voluptas animi explicabo tempore praesentium quis ut dignissimos.

Vel repellat omnis fugiat. Quia vitae excepturi itaque rerum modi. Excepturi qui est vel quo aut. Assumenda ad iusto non alias ullam non. Distinctio at illo maxime voluptatum vitae ab vel.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (24) $180
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (82) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”