What Bank for Long Term Career?

Hey Fam,

Currently in Corp Dev at a large financial services firm, was previously an IB analyst at a MM firm.

Long story short - while Corp Dev is pretty chill, I don’t think this job will be fulfilling from a long term perspective, both financially and even just day-to-day. Sounds crazy, but I liked the sales-y aspect that banking had at the VP/D/MD level, as well as the rigor and trajectory of the career overall. I actually enjoyed it and felt like I could do it long-term.. I guess I went to Corp Dev just to try something else.

My question is - as I target banks to return to, what sort of bank would be ideal for a long-term career?

While I like the idea of joining a balance sheet bank, I feel like pure advisory shops like HL or PWP might be more entrepreneurial and likely viewed by clients as more of a ‘true’ advisor vs. a commodity provider for mega caps. That is, I feel like BBs are more of a ‘machine’, where client service and execution are mechanical in nature.

What are your thoughts?

 

I’m an analyst at one of the above and never understood why every career banker doesn’t work at one of these banks. Partnership gives better economics at senior levels, more freedom to do what you want to do, and way better culture all around. Not to mention MM deals are way easier to source and a lot easier to come into a pitch from a top MM pitching against Lincoln and RayJ vs trying to beat old Goldman and MS at an EB.

 

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