Is a long term career in investing right for me?

For some context, I’m a year so into an associate role at a relatively new tech-focused growth equity fund - moved here from a top MM bank, went to a no-name school. I like my fund and I like my role - but I’m starting to wonder what’s next for my career long term.  I’ll be honest, I am not at a top-tier, brand name fund, although I feel like I am still getting good experience, even it’s a below-the-radar fund. But if I were to pursue a long term career in investing - become a tenured principal or partner, I feel like I’d constantly be faced with a huge disadvantage. I simply don’t have the brand names to support my credibility. When I hear my principals and partners speak, they always fall back on their experience at “XXX fund” - I won’t have that if I follow in their footsteps and try to get internally promoted. 
 

The only value in an MBA I see is to replace the no-name school on my resume with a widely-recognized institution - I really don’t want to have to go this route. I feel like founding my own company is the best route to establish credibility - I would love to do this, but I would need the right partner/idea/timing to make that work. I could lateral to a more well known fund too.
 

Curious if anyone else (especially someone more senior here) has been in this situation. Am I overthinking pedigree/reputation? Or am I reasonably evaluating how this industry just works. 

 

Eum est necessitatibus quo. Recusandae rerum et libero et tenetur qui maiores ut. Sed optio cumque et pariatur. Et quia qui rerum nobis inventore rerum ea.

Numquam reiciendis vitae minus consequatur. Rerum molestias est at occaecati ipsam dolores voluptatibus adipisci. Veritatis rerum placeat neque molestiae maxime.

Eos voluptatem reiciendis reiciendis illum pariatur nisi sed suscipit. Ad dolorem veritatis animi quia accusantium id. Aut et error sed est.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 99.0%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.4%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.4%
  • Ardian 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Bain Capital 99.0%
  • Blackstone Group 98.4%
  • Warburg Pincus 97.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (22) $569
  • Vice President (92) $362
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (91) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (205) $268
  • 1st Year Associate (387) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (29) $154
  • 2nd Year Analyst (83) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (246) $122
  • Intern/Summer Associate (32) $82
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (314) $59
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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”