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No boutiques in Michigan pay street. Period. The closest to street would be Cowen (formerly Quarton International, was acquired by Cowen), but they lag by probably $10-$15k base (compared to what is NOW considered street - $95-$100k base) and that lag translates to bonus as well. Go out of state to a larger platform and come back to MI in PE or as a sr. assoc. / vp at a boutique bank with upward mobility and a good comp package. If you went to a boutique in MI and then later decided to go into PE, your options would be SUPER limited (if you had any at all) without the experience of a formal investment banking analyst program on your resume from a global, full-service investment bank. In my experience, Cowen is not viewed as such if it is their M&A group in Michigan, unfortunately (Cowen doesn't do much M&A as it is anyways in aggregate).

 

i know cowen birmingham used to pay street for the analyst level (85 base and solid bonus), but they had a flat base model so a1,a2,a3 all had 85 base and increase was in bonus. not sure if that office bumped base to 100? Have heard that cascade will pay 100k base, idk bonus numbers tho. Unsure of other shops, angle comes to mind as the most reputable after cowen. 

 

I would be, quite frankly, shocked, to find out that Cascade, of all places, pays $100k base to analysts. I would be willing to bet my life savings that is absolutely not the case. I would put the probability of Cascade paying $100k base to analysts at exactly 00.0000%. I am relatively certain that all-in at Cascade is somewhere around ~$55-$65k. 

 

Agreed with the above, from MI originally and the list is pretty short. Cowen, Angle, Finnea, Cascade, a few more automotive-focused boutiques. Best move if your heart is set on the Midwest is just go to Chicago, spend some time on a bigger platform or a more diversified one, and then eventually come back at a more mid-level role.

 

Couldn't agree more.  There's no real work in Michigan and no one will hire you or respect you coming from there.  Hate to be the bearer of bad news.

People working in Michigan are there for a very specific reason, usually because they have to stay close to their family for business or personal reasons.  Otherwise, why would you work in a place where the hours are the same as Chi/Nyc, the pay is 20-40% less, and the deal flow is 60% less.  I mean, the market is a total joke to be honest.  Get out while you can.

 

Having talked to a few people at places like Cowen in Michigan, most of them are either 1) trying to stay close to home or 2) want to realize a higher value for their comp given they have new families etc. The deal flow for example at Cowen is actually not bad in MI but is strictly LMM/MM sell-side M&A. They have a couple bankers who are actual hitters there but also some lower producers. All-in-all, most people who take banking jobs in MI aren't really looking to supercharge their career and have personal reasons for being there.

 
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I’m from Detroit metro - I’m a male so can only speak from that perspective. Never felt unsafe in that area, have friends who go to Wayne State who feel the same. Just be careful walking alone at night (don’t have AirPods in, wear super flashy stuff), because shit can still happen.

 

Know the Michigan M&A market very well - here are a few notes:

  • Cascade analyst base is well below $100K (anything that you hear otherwise is BS)
  • Cowen is one of the higher paying firms in Michigan (partly due to being attached to a larger Firm; deals are slightly larger); spoke to a recruiter and was told base comp was comparable to street (slight haircut due to COL but still very good for Michigan)
  • Most deals are typically LMM/MM sell-side deals (sub $300MM EV; most of which are sub $150MM EV) manufacturing, consumer, business services, aerospace & defense, etc.
  • Exit ops from Michigan-based IB stints are usually LMM PE or moving into a MM outside of Michigan

Feel free to PM with any specific questions.

 

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