What do ppl think they are going to get this year??? Obviously expectations are very high (see recent Bloomberg article). What is the amount you would be happy with / what will you view as not enough to stay?
| +264 | UBS Layoffs (October 2026) | 79 | 1h |
| +120 | Do people still want to go PE? | 36 | 6h |
| +95 | UBS Tech layoff | 31 | 2h |
| +36 | Lazard hirevue | 11 | 1d |
| +36 | What Differentiates the Best Analysts as AI Improves? | 9 | 1d |
| +31 | How do YOU manage networking requests? | 5 | 1h |
| +28 | Quitting After First 4 months | 10 | 1d |
| +25 | Cornell Club T10 Rankings (UPDATED 10/2026) | 16 | 1h |
| +22 | MBB Pay Raises | 10 | 1h |
| +18 | Are target prospects getting dumber? | 11 | 2h |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
I’ll start - associate 2 and less than $200k bonus would be irked. Wouldn’t even be that much of a increase vs. precedent @ my firm.
It really depends. For example, if you have been with your current firm all year, your bonus should be chunky.
But if you moved over recently to a new firm, they can lowball you IMO.
Yep, that’s true for sure
won't anyone who lateraled over in this market have a huge guaranteed bonus though? genuinely a question since that was the vibe I keep getting from lateral recruiters
Yeah that’s what I have seen too. Most laterals have a guarantee to be in the top X% of the associate class year for their bonus (at least if you were good at negotiating the contract you have that in there)
It's time for a second comma.
Lol I assume sarcasm? Not sure cause there is the outlier SVP that could hit that
Nah fam - they need to make it rain. Last 18 months have been brutal.
Curious what Associate 3 bonuses look like for the different firms? Is there a thread?
Mate, I don’t know. What’re you expecting this year bro
This is probably your best bet
Anything less than $350k and I’d be disappointed
Damn bruh that’s a lot. You at a EB and top bucket?
At an EB/top-tier specialty boutique. Probably not top top, but recognized as a high performer.
Good luck with that!
VP1 at UBS/RBC/WF, top bucket, expecting around $275-300k
That seems reasonable tbh, I know those firms aren’t known for paying lights out
Yes, I would say they pay roughly 5% below street compared to BBs. So if standard bonus for mid VP1 at BAML for instance is $260k on $260k base, the firms I mentioned would pay around $485-500 I think this year is unusual so they'd pay maybe 10-15% more bonus than usual (compared to what they pay historically).
Guessing UBS? I'm at one of these and bonuses haven't been communicated to associates yet but I see you're a VP so maybe it's different.
RBC but bonus blew my above expectations completely out of the water
AS2. Expecting $300k+
EB? That would be awesome
MM.
What do we think for 1st year associates i.e. 1st full year associates?
Wondering the same thing.
Trying not to get my hopes up too much but $175-200 seems doable.
Care to provide any stat? Bank type? Bucket Expectation?
What about mid tier BB Barc, CS etc…
Also curious.. If analyst bonuses from a few months ago are any indication then 100% sounds like a reasonable target then maybe + ~10-20% for top performers. Just guessing here.
Agreed. You are seeing 2nd yr analysts getting 100-120 bonus. Can't see how you can pay a 1st year associate less than 150.
You’d be surprised how cheap some lower tier BBs are lol
EB VP3 expect mid 700s all in, maybe high 700s if the hype about things being up big time this year is real. I don't think starting with an 8 is on the cards
Know a VP 2 with a guaranteed 725k offer at an EB if that’s helpful context
That is helpful. CVP right?
VP3 at BBs are in the $650kish range so that makes sense.
Anyone have assumptions on stub bonuses for 1st year associates?
At my firm (BB) I know that 2019 stub was $40k and 2020 stub was 2020 was $35k.
Based on the recent BBG article and general sentiment, I would estimate stubs will be $50k but curious what others think
Stubs won't typically move much since retention isn't as big an issue. Would expect it to be back to the $40k mark unless signing bonuses for the incoming associate class has also moved up
Isn’t retention big this year though? I’m a first year and getting hit up by recruiters daily.
Yeah I doubt stub bonuses will be affected as much. Let's be honest, Assoc 0s joined halfway through 2021, did training, and have been on the desk for probably 3 months max. That doesn't warrant an outsized stub. They also already got signing and relo and with the recent pay bumps should be more than fine.
I think associate 2 and under that are expecting $300k or more are setting themselves up for disappointment, but hope I’m wrong
Not sure why this got MS, at some banks this would be 130-150% of base which does happen pre-COVID. But it seems a lot of banks are paying a higher premium for their employees to keep them happy. Seems like WLB got far worse for you guys.
I think it depends on a lot of factors. Probably top bucket A2A can get that. Mid bucket MBA associates probably not. IDK though but just my logic
By 300 do you mean 300 in total comp? or 300 in bonus alone?
Bonus alone. 300 all-in comp is bottom to mid-bucket for first year associates.
any guess on what GS Aso numbers will be like?
VP at EB about to make Director. Even if they pay me a million I’ll be make noise
What number would you be happy with?
In the same boat... totally get it.
Lol we all know that’s a lie
At a top EB: AS1/ 2 / 3 is expected to be 400k/ 475k/ 525k all in
Dang thats good.
Yum
Seems very reasonable and not that big a bump over pre COVID tbh
Any insight into GS numbers?
Curious about RX
Word of mouth says 275-300 for As1 at top Midwest group. Could be way off though.
Damn. I heard 2021 was a slow year for RX.
330 as VP1. Expecting $450
EB I assume?
For bonus only?
MM. Bonus only
Were you top-bucket ranked?
Any idea about GS?
VP1. $275. A bit low so will be jumping ship.
Damn yeah sounds low for how good this year was. Are you BB?
Incidunt ullam laborum rem voluptas. Veritatis quibusdam quasi aut molestiae sit exercitationem id. Exercitationem animi illum dolorem occaecati debitis ratione eveniet. Soluta dolores nisi nulla libero velit sit. Veniam nisi tempore consectetur assumenda qui inventore saepe sint. Repudiandae odio dolore aperiam. Tempora adipisci qui rerum quam animi possimus placeat et.
Eius asperiores incidunt nemo quia. Maxime autem aut exercitationem atque repudiandae fugit. Voluptas ut iste quidem omnis ab iusto qui. Dolorem nesciunt sunt quasi accusantium.
Repellendus culpa inventore rerum modi voluptates vitae. Quidem omnis necessitatibus non sit et qui culpa neque. Explicabo velit non numquam nobis deleniti repudiandae. Tenetur eius quia consectetur ad. Eligendi praesentium tempore nihil iste. In delectus similique voluptatum mollitia nulla perspiciatis necessitatibus et. Voluptatem ab doloribus dignissimos labore rerum sed.
Quia blanditiis excepturi odio nesciunt eum fugit architecto. Doloribus iusto ipsum qui error molestiae. Sit laboriosam accusamus fugiat quam. Corrupti qui molestias aliquid ab cumque atque rerum nobis.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Nesciunt corporis et doloremque eligendi. Consequatur rerum iste consequuntur dolorem et. Excepturi iure accusamus esse voluptatem et repudiandae rem. Quos deserunt officiis maxime accusamus at animi.
Eveniet sint neque et officia ad enim. Voluptate voluptatem commodi quaerat corrupti sint est. Quis deserunt eos labore facilis.
Dolorem neque tempora aut sint et dolore alias. Ut consectetur illo est quisquam. Quia assumenda quia autem nisi vero architecto. Pariatur minima ex molestias voluptas aut.
Dolorem nemo corporis qui culpa quia in voluptatum. Eos nulla praesentium sapiente repudiandae unde. Sed animi officiis animi sint.
Voluptates eligendi reiciendis illo totam sint et est doloremque. Assumenda quod eum laborum illum dolor. Quidem sit non alias totam nostrum ut aut. Tempore nam quas reprehenderit aut. Quae veniam voluptas dolorem facere autem dolorem. Veritatis quo iusto ipsum inventore illum.
Unde rem voluptatem incidunt molestiae et tempora. Sit et doloremque veritatis distinctio labore. Quo consectetur illo quo fuga maxime quibusdam quae.