Asset Management or Debt Originations

Hi everyone. I have two offers I am deciding between. One is debt originations for a small/mid-size private equity group, and the other is asset management for a large REPE company. Offers are pretty much the same, but hours probably longer at the debt firm. Which is the best option? My long-term goal is probably acquisitions, or doing real estate investments of my own.  

13 Comments
 

Both work. You can make the jump to equity in 1-2 years if you take the debt role. You'll also get transaction experience. If you take the asset management role, you can also jump to acquisitions in 1-2 years, and understand how assets operate and function. Take whichever you think you will enjoy the team and culture better. In my humble experience, excelling in a role isn't about the work, but about the firm you are at, the culture, and the people surrounding you. And in 1-2 years, start looking to jump to acquisitions and doors will open. 

 

If your goal is buyside (acquisitions), then it's a no brainer to go to the buyside (asset management) now right?

Internal transition is a higher probability than lateraling from an outside debt role. Not all the time, but if you have the chance to be on the buyside in one shape or another, I'd do that and start networking with the acquisition guys 8-12 months after you begin.

 

That is not so universally true I would call it a "no brainer", lots of smaller shops operate debt funds and equity fund with overlapping originations/acquisitions teams. Not common at big shops, but still, fund strategy can shift and I think people would be shifted as well in a lot of cases.

AM to Acq at a large shop is much more of a jump in some situations. The relationship building side of debt originations at a PE shop/debt fund could leave you very well positioned to do acquisitions in a lot of instances (and really, underwriting LP equity deals and debt investments isn't that different) .

 

Beatae eos tenetur eum enim. Adipisci cumque delectus dolorem et debitis non. Necessitatibus et ex aut.

Quasi quas esse odit molestias. Occaecati quia ut quidem sed hic nam velit. Ea doloremque laudantium vel eum dicta earum dolorem labore. Distinctio quam rerum voluptatibus molestias omnis aut.

Temporibus libero est dignissimos fuga et labore quia. Aut reprehenderit voluptas beatae velit deleniti modi. Dignissimos aut mollitia culpa voluptatum perferendis. Voluptatem delectus ut quas commodi maxime. Eum libero quisquam corporis dolorum. Rerum necessitatibus dolor commodi.

Perferendis itaque tenetur provident amet repellat. Odit consequuntur est sint quisquam. Aperiam est sed perspiciatis illum accusantium quod praesentium. Et cumque dolorem voluptatem sapiente vero assumenda. Vitae iusto nihil nisi libero voluptatem est. Aliquid pariatur aut corporis qui minima sunt saepe. Nisi natus aut et ea odio adipisci quia autem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”