Guggenheim (NY) Vs. Rothschild (NY) Vs. William Blair (Chicago)

Have offers from these three firms for SA. Was hoping to get input on which offer is the best. Specifically, which will have the best exit opportunities down the road for PE (have not heard much about Guggenheim exits)?

24 Comments
 

Anyone feel free to step in here, but haven't heard great noises out of Roth NY recently (can't speak for RX though).

Won't say much about Guggenheim as I don't quite have my finger on the pulse. If you want to exit to most PE shops in Chicago, Blair will get you there

 
Best Response

Guggenheim NY: have heard of 1 analyst placing at a mega fund in the past few years (strictly word of mouth). Most likely concentrated in MM shops. Again, purely hearsay on this.

Rothschild NY: have seen very few analysts from Rothschild at US buyout shops...may just be due to the class sizes relative to other places.

William Blair CHI: will get you looks from top Chicago PE (think GTCR, MDP), have heard great things about their healthcare group. Great firm with fantastic reputation and culture - the negative feedback on the firm is more likely due to WSO readers' prestige boners for GS TMT and MS M&A.

You've got great offers. If it were me, I would take William Blair Chicago in a heartbeat. Hope this was helpful!

 

I'm going to intervene here because I dont want you listening to the above poster. DO NOT GO TO BLAIR OVER Guggenheim. Guggenheim is at least in the conversation / is an elite boutique. Blair is a strictly MM shop, and it isn't even the best MM shop. Use common sense now.

 

I am assuming you are not from Chicago. Not saying WB> Gugg, but it all depends on what your career goals are. The vast majority of people I've spoken to at WB are very happy and love their jobs and work environment. This is worth considering, as I think at the end of the day a fantastic culture/ awesome group of co-workers goes a very long way.

 
"cocrew21" Guggenheim NY: have heard of 1 analyst placing at a mega fund in the past few years (strictly word of mouth). Most likely concentrated in MM shops. Again, purely hearsay on this.

Rothschild NY: have seen very few analysts from Rothschild at US buyout shops...may just be due to the class sizes relative to other places.

William Blair CHI: will get you looks from top Chicago PE (think GTCR, MDP), have heard great things about their healthcare group. Great firm with fantastic reputation and culture - the negative feedback on the firm is more likely due to WSO readers' prestige boners for GS TMT and MS M&A.

You've got great offers. If it were me, I would take William Blair Chicago in a heartbeat. Hope this was helpful!

I know a bunch of people who work at or have worked at GTCR and MDP. There are virtually no former William Blair banking analysts. They recruit from the bulge bracket and some top boutique banks. I'm not saying that Blair is a bad shop, but to take it over Guggenheim or Rothschild in hopes of landing at GTCR/MDP is misguided.

 

Agreed - accepting on the premise of landing GTCR/MDP is misguided, was more so making the point that those shops are not entirely closed off to WB analysts as they have historically taken associates from there.

Honestly not too sure if the comparisons are even apples to apples; reputation in the city each of these firms are based out of needs to be assessed separately.

 

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