Over the big shop

For context - 6 YOE total, 3.5 acquisitions (current), 1.5 asset management, 1 brokerage. Currently at $100B+ shop that focuses mostly on Core deals in a HCOL city. $160K base $70K bonus.

Really over the big company and run of the mill Core deals with limited upside / simple business plans. Want to work on higher octane, hairier deals as a generalist across the cap stack with the goal of eventually becoming a Principle at a smaller shop. These opportunities (Senior Associate / VP) seem few and far between and a lot want that 2 years of IB experience. Anyone made similar pivots that can shed any light on my situation?

3 Comments
 

You're at a $100b+ AUM shop and can't find a smaller shop to come in as a Director+? By "smaller" do you mean $30b because you're not going to find the sort of entrepreneuria, generalist lopportunity you're looking for at >$5b-10b... Try a $1b-$3b AUM operator where you can be a Director/VP and work on smaller $10mm-50mm value-add/development deals in an acq/AM function. None of the smaller shops require IB experience at all and would actually value your (highly) institutional experience.

 

Thanks for the reply, exactly the kind of feedback I’m looking for. I mean the latter, ~$5-10B shop or so but not necessarily thinking an operator, thinking specifically smaller REPE companies that maybe act more as capital allocators.

Separate but relevant point, I think a lot of the traditional food groups in RE are played out and the best way for smaller investors (which I hope to become) is to invest on the periphery of what’s mainstream (ex. IOS or MH 5 or 6 years ago) or to take on more risk in distressed deals, unloved asset classes, etc.

Curious to hear your thoughts.

 
Most Helpful

Sint excepturi ea et in omnis. Inventore repellendus quidem laborum aut officiis repellat. Repellat rem quo ipsam dignissimos perspiciatis neque. Quam ratione iure reprehenderit laborum autem earum corrupti cum. Rerum necessitatibus dolor laborum et cupiditate. Sapiente ea est nostrum ratione omnis earum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (66) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
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...”