JPMorgan vs GS Prestige?
Hey all,Just wanted to get the general consensus on JPMorgan and its perceived prestige. It always seems that it is in a league under top BB's like GS/MS and on par/under some EB's. I have an offer for a group at JPM with a good WLB and good exits to PE and an offer at GS in NY with a coverage group. I understand GS has the better name, but this JPM role is also solid. Was wondering how much the name means since I plan on the traditional PE/B-school route. I understand I should be grateful and at the end of the day, both firms are amazing. I might be splitting hairs with this one but just wanted to get all your thoughts. 
I personally know people that turned down GS offers to work at JPM. Top coverage groups too, mind. I’m sure the story is the same at MS. If you talk to seniors, I’m sure you’ll find a few that did their 3-10 years at MS/GS/JPM then moved over to one of the other two.
People on WSO make insane bones over trivial shit like prestige, but please understand: JPM is firmly in the top 3 banks, globally. The PE/BSchool path is available at both and either bank. Just period. MF/UMM/MM, M7/T15, whatever. You will not make a wrong decision whatever you choose. If you decide that you don’t like JPM/GS culture, recruiting to one of the other two will likely go quite smoothly tbh.
Decide based on perceived fit/coverage/etc. Even “prestige,” is fine if you must. Bottom line is that there are no wrong choices to be made here.
this^
I appreciate this answer! Super helpful and a great perspective. Will definitely make my decision on fit/culture given that both are top of the industry.
At JPM rn in one of the teams that gets mentioned as one of our better performing ones, and I think the culture is something I like very much. Can't speak for culture at GS, but as the other commenter said, I can't see the prestige/exit opp difference as something to justify the GS discount or culture that could be suboptimal.
That being said, do not take FIG at JPM lol. anything else, I'd say is a good opp
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Good culture in HC but kind of sweaty.
Don't know anyone in m&a, but I'd imagine the same as HC maybe slightly more serious.
no clue on tech. Only thing I know about them is they're doing a bunch of equity deals
GS discount doesn't exist anymore no?
Up in the air rn I guess, who knows where either firm will land for total comp. With the salary increase, we might see bonuses fall by the amount of the increase or maybe not
What is wrong with FIG at JPM?
Solid group, performs well, but consensus is the team is mega sweaty. On the other hand, team has very good exits, so still a good spot - just wouldn't be my target group if I was worried about culture
Solid group, performs well, but consensus is the team is mega sweaty. On the other hand, team has very good exits, so still a good spot - just wouldn't be my target group if I was worried about culture
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Nobody outside your small circle of finance friends cares about this. Besides as mentioned no difference. Choose based on group, culture/people
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Might get crap for this, but you would be absolutely out of your mind to take JPM over GS. Even a worse choice if you want to do PE. GS class is half the size and still sends more people to MF/UMM PE. The groups at GS also run a lot leaner. If you decide against PE, there’s no better platform than GS. IBD is going to suck regardless (WLB is same at JPM/GS), you might as well pick the place that will accelerate your career the most.
I told my relatives I want to work in finance. They know virtually nothing about banking beyond commercial banking, but most have heard of Goldman Sachs. They don't know what they do or why they know about it, but they know it is supposed to be good.Similarly I wanted to apply to Ivy League universities. My family only knew Harvard/Oxford
Also if it helps to drive the point across, they are immigrants and most haven't been to college. I personally would not renege on jpm for Goldman, but that's just me.
Goldman = Harvard/Oxford in terms of recognition and preftige.
Your family never heard of JPMorgan? I find that very hard to believe. Doesn't mean they have better prestige, but JPMorgan is definitely a household name before Goldman Sachs.
Yah some have heard of JP Morgan Chase where one could deposit money and possibly become a teller. My family is not totally oblivious of the the banks' names like Citi, Bofa, JP Morgan Chase, however high finance is not what comes to mind when they hear these names. It the commercial/retail banking arms that do. Referring back to the college analogy, suppose I mention NYU or Duke or Princeton. Though these are renowned institutions, they do not have the same reputation/preftige of Harvard. So for people who do not care for keeping abreast of the world of finance or academia, even they think "special" when the names Goldman or Harvard are spoken, versus "bank" and "good school" when JPM or NYU are spoken. I hope my point is clearer now.
Sorry, I deleted my post because I ended up repeating what you said below. It is definitely true that outside of GS' name, "prestige" of these banks is 100% correlated with the strength of their retail/commercial banking franchises.
Did your family know Cambridge as well or just Harvard and Oxford?
Nice humble brag.
Thank you. If I was looking to brag I’d be posting this on LinkedIn
Either is fine for future PE - you’re way over thinking it and pick whatever you feel best suits you. Deal flow will kill your view of prestige anyways
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Prestige lags performance. JPM has been #1 on league tables for years but still need some time to match the prestige of GS, especially since GS is very M&A focused
GS has been #1 in global M&A for last 10 years
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