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Former buyside ER associate and current RE acquisition associate here...

ER will give you a phenomenal finance background. Combine that with a CFA and you have some great options in 2-3 years for investment roles (of various kinds, including CRE). Long-term comp is definitely higher, but the industry is shrinking as a result of a shift to passive. Very few people in the industry actually add value for their investors. This is why I left - alpha is nearly impossible to achieve over long periods of time. 

I love CRE but would not love asset management. AM generally also has lower long-term earnings potential vs acquisitions. 

Despite being in CRE now and strongly preferring it to ER, I would pick ER in your shoes. Just my opinion. 

 

ER pay is better than RE in 90% of circumstances (outwith megafund equity shops).

 

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