Trending Content - Private Equity Forum
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
November 30, 2026
9 Free Financial Modeling Lessons
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.
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
High Finance Applications
Guaranteed
Get at least one offer GUARANTEED
- 1:1 support
- 92% success rate
- 2,000+ mentor network
- Unlimited Live bootcamps
- AI for resume + LinkedIn
- Networking automation tools
- HireVue simulation tool
- Full course library
- Private Slack community
- 20hrs of mocks
- + much more...
Stop! Just stop with this prestige ranking BS. The only people who give a shit about this are douchebags looking to pump up their own ego, no one else gives a f**k.
This is not about prestige, it is about salary and exit. If you do RE debt, I assume that it is difficult to transition into VC. If you are generalist PE at BX, you could go anywhere in the investing space (from VC to distressed HF).
You changed the title. It literally said "most prestigious firms for Associates"
OMG you are so frustrated - I just fucking want to know how much you earn at fucking MF in London as an Associate so
This is why the British empire crumbled.
Once you step foot on the job all notions of money and prestige disappear. You have to really like this job because it becomes clear instantly that there are better ways of making money and having a sustainable life (you can still be rich without the pain of being a typical psycho VP).
WTF I do this shit for the money like 99% on this forum (pls dont pretend you even like the job)
At my firm, a lot of people do. They don’t have hobbies because this IS their hobby.
Any answers or datapoints that are not philosophical ramblings about pay/prestige?
THANK YOU THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING
Apollo is #1. H&F is quite close at #2. Then there's a big gap, most of the other big funds are within the same range but Apollo and H&F pull away.
Do you have any idea about the comp level at Apollo/H&F and then the others? Does Apollo make any difference between PE/Private Credit/...?
Base could be ~40% higher than rest of the shops, especially when comparing to MF
Aut delectus sint magnam sit temporibus quaerat voluptas debitis. Reiciendis fuga excepturi nihil qui qui ducimus.
Aliquam quasi quas reprehenderit dicta saepe vel est. Minima laudantium dolores aut nemo ducimus excepturi deleniti. Esse qui sapiente eius atque. Maxime ut autem neque.
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...