What Is Your Backup Plan?

Last fund deployed all during peak COVID pricing. 1 cofounder left to go chase retail money, other co founder is retiring in 3-4 years.

Fundraising has been impossible and at some point fees will step down from prior fund. 

For anyone in a similar seat, what is your backup plan with every firm being in a similar scenario? Are you thinking try to pivot to non-CRE role and if so, what kind? I’m nervous about not having great transferable skills to corp dev or fp&a as an example 

21 Comments
 

3 years of graduate school then you are part of a crew that captains tanker ships. rotations are usually 90 days on a ship 90 days off at home. 

$130k starting salary increasing with seniority. you gain rank every 2-3 years.

third mate 130k

second mate 160k

chief mate 200k

captain 220-250k+

all on the same 90 on 90 off rotations. pensions too. the work is basically standing watch 8 hours a day. so you watch weather, routes, etc.

 

Larry - take this post with all due respect because your content on this website is quality and much appreciated, but, I've noticed a handful of posts you have made regarding getting your CFA. Has this family office told you that this potential job is a lock if you get past Level 2 or attain your Charter, or do you just believe the CFA can help you make a jump? 

If it's the latter, I'd be cautious. I thought the same thing before pursuing the CFA and earning the Charter, but the reality—at least in my experience—is that it doesn't open nearly as many doors as you might expect. It's still a valuable credential that people like seeing on a resume, but it's also a major time commitment (especially Level II). Just wanted to share my perspective from someone who's gone down that path.

 

IRR you ready to rumble

Run a small business in a beach town and be content with making $250k in a VLCOL environment where I can golf and surf whenever I want. Fuck, that sounds kinda good actually.

This

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 
Most Helpful

Reminds me of the billionaire and fisherman story

A billionaire was vacationing in a small coastal village when he noticed a fisherman returning early in the day with several beautiful fish.

The billionaire asked, "Why are you done so early?"

The fisherman smiled. "I've caught enough fish to provide for my family today."

The billionaire said, "Why don't you stay out longer and catch more?"

"What would I do with the extra fish?" asked the fisherman.

"You'd sell them, make more money, buy a bigger boat, hire employees, and eventually own a fleet of fishing boats."

The fisherman asked, "Then what?"

"You'd become very wealthy. You could build a company, sell it for millions—or even billions—and retire."

The fisherman smiled again. "Then what?"

"Then," said the billionaire, "you could move to a quiet seaside village, spend your mornings fishing, your afternoons relaxing, your evenings with your family and friends, and enjoy life."

The fisherman looked at him and replied:

"Isn't that what I'm already doing?"

Array
 

Manager in RE - Other

What type of small business would you want to do?

Gelato stand next to the only ferry dock in the village. Seen this in Dubrovnik, Croatia. 

And, AirBnB landlord. Particularly if I could own an entire floor of a building and sub-divide into multiple studio/1Bath units for operating efficiency.  Seen this in Sorrento, Italy. 

Or, Oyster farmer (Kotor, Montenegro, although global warming is becoming an issue). 

Have compassion as well as ambition and you’ll go far in life. I am interested in digital immortality. Check out my blog at digitalimmortality.com
 

Ipsum explicabo nostrum accusamus neque. Cum magnam praesentium corporis eius corrupti odit consectetur quisquam. Mollitia sed ipsam rerum repudiandae illum. Alias voluptatibus deserunt voluptatum ut possimus. Ea praesentium perspiciatis officia molestiae voluptatem quis. Nostrum ad id voluptatem tempora iure minus. Dolorem consequatur consequatur optio quo dolorem qui.

Optio voluptatem et vero omnis. Sit voluptas aut velit ullam iste dolorem. Soluta eos quia distinctio consequatur rerum quos.

Et nihil quidem vel iste cupiditate. Laborum at vel voluptatum beatae quisquam cumque. Et repellendus dolorum earum modi ut. Omnis qui quis enim qui. Tempora laudantium quia ipsum excepturi. Cumque quasi sapiente voluptatem quae et et quia. Facere rerum cumque dolores assumenda doloremque corrupti.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”