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Not sure about the pay grade relative but, I work as an investment associate for a DMV developer, make 105k base, 15% bonus, slightly under 2 YOE, and I work consistently 40 hours, frequently no work past 1 on Friday’s, unlimited PTO, great environment. I think your best bet will be a smaller less institutionalized shop with a large room for growth and opportunity to take a bigger role in the company 

 

120k all in is AT MINIMUM 50k below what a first year analyst of undegrad would make at a MF. I'm also at a developer (Hines type firm with Hines level brand name recognition) and bring in 110k all in , in my first year. Am looking to transition to a more traditional REPE role and am really looking to boost my pay. I know there's 200k plus jobs out there for those with 1 year experience. Would love more insight on OP's questions. Willing to work 60ish hours a week with occasional longer stretches.

Kinda embarrassing how little I make.

 

Get a job at a top fund and work on the west coast. Same pay for less hours, better weather and less bullshit. NYC culture is all about the grind even when it doesn’t produce incremental profit for the firm 


I would say smaller, elite shops are the place to find this. Not going to say the name of my firm but we more or less fit your criteria 

 

Mid to large REPE firms (invest as LP at the deal level) and debt funds (mezz/pref/distressed) with west coast offices. If you filter for those criteria, you’ll find some gems.
 

Thing is, these firms are not huge and aren’t hiring 25 associates from IB every year. And if the culture / pay is good, people aren’t leaving all the time. You just have to be in touch with the recruiters and get lucky.

Also, some firms with good culture / pay still have shitty bosses who grind you. At my firm, I got lucky and have a chill MD. Some of the other MDs work more on the weekend - and for what? They don’t put more equity to work than the other teams. So much of it is just luck

 

Boutique asset managers, family offices and hedge funds are the most likely places to find good hours, good pay, and good culture. 

At my shop, more than half of the staff worked at a "mega fund" prior. Everyone left to be more entrepreneurial, work at a place with a better culture, and get paid more. 

 

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