boutique

Going through the interview process at a Boutique IB, for an institutional sales role. Role is FT and office is located in FiDi, NYC. The recruiter said that 12/14hr days are common and that this role, especially starting out, will be difficult. Essentially I will have to warm call institutional...

13 Apr 2022

Hey monkeys, As I am a rising sophomore at a non-target, I have been trying to position myself as best as possible to land an IB gig. I understand that a very common path is for students to do an internship in PWM or at a local PE shop or HF, etc in the freshman summer (which I have done), and then...

29 Jul 2019

WSO obsesses about the BBs and same boutiques like Lazard and Moelis over and over again. For the students that miss out on the top well-known banks, what are some strong MM or boutique shops which pay close to street and have solid exit opps that don't get mentioned much?

16 Apr 2019

Hi everyone. Apologies in advance if there has already been a discussion regarding a similar topic. To give a bit of background, I'm a junior who has already signed for a 2022 SA position. With that being said, I just transferred to the school I currently attend and after many tries of appealing...

15 Mar 2022

Current 3rd year Associate at a boutique consulting firm (think FTI/Huron/Navigant) doing client-facing technical/financial consulting work. Planning to apply for my MBA next fall and I'm targeting Tuck, Kellogg, INSEAD and will probably apply to Harvard/Stanford to test my luck. I'm coming from a...

09 Jun 2021

Mod Note (Andy): #TBT Throwback Thursday - this was originally posted on 3/24/13. So I've seen a few posts lately asking about mutual funds, Asset Management gigs, and alternatives to the sell-side out of college, and hopefully my experience taking the asset management route to hedge fund rather...

22 Oct 2015

There has been a lot of discussion on MM banks lately, so I wanted to see if anyone would be willing to give some insight into their experiences working in more of the boutique banks. What are pitching/deal processes like compared to MM/BB banks? Since boutiques are typically more "specialized" do...

17 Dec 2020

I'm going to be finishing freshman year at a target school this spring and wanted to get a start looking for finance-related experience this summer. Right now, I'm a part of finance clubs at my school and have had some non-finance experiences in software and business. From what I've seen so far,...

26 Nov 2021

I just completed the Winter 2022 internship at Deloitte in the audit dept.(Jan-Mar). I did prior recruiting work and luckily got an internship at an M&A boutique for the period of late March through May. I come from a non-target and am only an accounting major, so this is good. I already got the...

15 Mar 2022

Hi all - I work in a small boutique that mainly advises on buyside M&A in the middle market. Currently in the midst of PE recruiting, and obviously reviewing my models as a result. I've come to realize that our models are....well kinda shit and all very high-level. For example, when we evaluate CIMs...

23 Apr 2020

Hi all, This has been something that I've been wondering for a while. If a VP at a top BB or EB like GS / MS or EVR / PJT / CVP, and they've grinded up since 1st year analyst, do you guys still think it'd be near impossible for them to find a decent PE role as a senior associate at a 1~3bn PE fund?...

17 Sep 2020

The firm has progressed a lot in terms of revenue and geographical expansion. But it still doesn't enjoy an image of a proper wall street investment bank. I know they are focused mostly on valuation but how about M&A and Restructuring. Can anyone please tell how are D&P analysts being perceived by...

01 Sep 2017

Hey guys, I'm in a bit of a tight spot, and could use some advice. I'm a rising junior at a non-target unranked state school and this past summer I managed to get an internship as a summer analyst at a private equity firm. Fortunately, I knocked it out of the park, and even though they weren't...

16 Aug 2017

Background: I'm a 2nd year analyst at a prominent non-big 4 firm doing TAS (valuation / M&A DD) and I just got an offer for a boutique bank (I'd solely be doing middle market M&A) in a second tier city, which I'm currently working in. FWIW, this is the first banking offer I've gotten. I have a few...

23 Feb 2017

Hey all, just wondering where associates/2nd year analysts typically exit to from shareholder activism type IB groups. I know activism defense advisory is offered by some BB and EB banks and was curious if most stay in IB or eventually try to land at an activist fund or in PE.

26 Jan 2018

For a few personal and professional reasons, I left a BB to join a smaller boutique. This has come with a promotion up a year in standing & pay well-above street (190k base as an Associate 2). I am greatly enjoying it, but the inner ambition in me is curious as to my future career prospects given...

15 Jan 2020

I'm a 2nd year associate at a Big 4 TAS (Valuation), looking to lateral after I'm promoted to senior. I'm aiming for M7 MBA (Wharton/Columbia/MIT) and read that the adcoms are suckers for big brand companies. However, being based in South East Asia, I don't have many choices. The best brands I could...

08 Feb 2019

Would love to hear people's thoughts on the comparison between Wells Fargo IB (platform offer - all divisions and locations) vs. a small tech boutique (think USA/GCA/FTP in NY office) for SA position. Here's what's important to me: Learning experience & responsibility Potential to re-recruit for...

10 Sep 2020

Long story short, I'm from a target school in the Northeast but made a mistake because I decided to double major in CS which ruined my GPA. My GPA currently stands at 3.4 which is just under the cutoff for most OCR at my school. Therefore I'm trying shift my focus onto smaller IB boutiques because I...

15 Jun 2020

I'm a non-diversity sophomore at a super non-target with a good amount of experience and offers for fall and spring, just need to lock down a sophomore summer internship. Since diversity programs at top banks are a no-go for me, I'd still like to end up with some solid experience next summer as...

07 Sep 2021

Hello WSOers - I'm a junior at a semi-target and also an international student. I had a superday back in May with a MM IB (Think HL, Jefferies, Lincoln) and never heard back but the office has made offers so I'm guessing I was dinged. I had another first-round with another MM bank but didn't make it...

12 Sep 2018

Hey guys, I currently work at a boutique Valuation shop in the Northeast, where I do BEV, Intangible Asset and M&E Vals. Long term, I want to work in a healthcare-focused role, be it a healthcare PE fund or Corp. Dev. at a large health system or healthcare services firm. I don't see a path to those...

05 Oct 2018

So some brief context: I'm headed into my senior year, attending a west coast private solid non target. 3.90 GPA, got First Honors (top of my class this year), Finance Major / Math Minor (have taken a number of electives in CS, upper div math, etc..) I'm currently abroad in Europe for a F500 Corp...

08 Jul 2021

Equity researcher interested in getting transaction experience with SMID biotechs and have limited insight/expectations on IB analyst programs. Any perspectives on expected experience (transaction exposure, analyst responsibilities etc.), assessment on the quality/type of IB bank, likely exits given...

02 Jan 2021

Hey all, Was reading through Flake's ER Q&A posted around the holidays and thought that his thread was fantastic. My experience / background is a little different than his was, so I wanted to start this thread as an opportunity to help provide at least some insight into other ER routes that aren't...

02 Jul 2012

Not much information on this highly successful TMT boutique shop. Anyone have good intel on these guys? Yes I know they work on TMT deals and own the SoftBank relationship and etc. But what about culture, hours for junior employees, leadership and direction of firm, chance to rise thru ranks, etc.?...

17 Apr 2018

About a week ago, I was sitting at my desk at my current PE internship when the partners and the CEO were filling in a questionnaire that an investor (bank) had requested. The specific question that caught my attention was one that asked for the caliber of my firm's current and previous interns. The...

04 Nov 2012

I would like to ask some questions about the banking industry in canada, banking compensation, and the banking lifestyle. Here are some of my questions; What are the best firms to work for in Canada (Toronto specifically) ? What is the dealflow like? GoldmanSachs or RBC for a longterm career in TO?...

03 Feb 2018

Now that Evercore's M&A NYC Analyst class is getting bigger (~50 Analysts) and they are placing Analysts into groups earlier - I was wondering what the top groups at Evercore are considered to be? I'm interested from a deal flow perspective, prestige perspective, and best exit opportunities into PE...

23 Aug 2019

Hey all, I am a freshman at a target university and I'm currently reaching out to a whole bunch of investment banking (boutique and MM), PWM, and PE firms near my hometown. My strategy so far, specifically for boutique banks, has been to find an MD/Senior Partner on Linkedin, and then find their...

26 Dec 2018

Hello WSO members, I'm a Junior majoring in finance. My current cumulative GPA is 3.0 and major GPA is 3.7. I know all investment banks have ended their recruiting, so I'm thinking about boutique ib intern or pe intern as alternatives. From what I've researched on the forum, some boutique ib recruit...

18 Apr 2017

----Original Message----- From: Me To: [Boutique President] Subject: summer internship Application Hey [First Name], I've attached my resume and cover letter below. Cheers, [My Name] -----His Reply--------- From: [Boutique President] To: Me Subject: RE: Summer Internship Application Hey [First...

05 Apr 2012

What up y'all I'm from the US and as the title states, I was wondering if RBC is considered a boutique bank?

23 Jun 2018

Dear community, I am from Asia and have 2 offers - both IBD - 1 from a boutique IB and 1 from a Big 4 firm. My goal is to study MFin at MIT/Oxford/Cambridge in 2-3 years and go to BB IB/PE in US/UK/Asia. The boutique IB has 10 offices around the globe, including NYC & London, although most are in...

21 May 2018

Hey, I'm in my last semester of my undergraduate Finance program at a good business within the state of Illinois (Northern Illinois University), but no where near a target school. My end career goal is to work at or create a private equity firm. I was wondering what are the different ways to break...

30 Dec 2015

Currently having to make the hardest decision of my career so far and input would be much appreciated! So a little background, I graduated from a semi-target UK university with an Economics degree and a frankly TERRIBLE grade (sub 3.0 GPA equivalent, a 3rd Class). After graduating I secured an IBD...

01 Feb 2013

A couple of stories have hit the tapes recently which both make fairly depressing reading for those looking to jump into a new 2/3 year analyst programme at a bulge bracket bank. 1 - Bonuses are down. Way down. I can only give UK figures here but the average 1st year salary is now around £65,000...

14 Nov 2012

Anyone have insight on M&A department in Insurance brokerage. They have a high volume of transactions within the last year for being a small, independent insurance brokerage. Additionally they are a portfolio company for a PE firm. Both factors have me concerned- like what happens to an M&A team...

13 Dec 2021

Has the day of the BB finally come and gone? For decades places like GS, JPM, Bear Stearns and Lehmans represented the pinnacle of banking. These giants once stood proud, now out of these only 2 are left. The street is strewn with Drexel Burnham Lamberts and the like. It is becoming increasingly...

08 Oct 2010

Strata Partners - Who knows the firm? Hi everybody! Has anybody heard of the London-based technology focused corporate finance boutique Strata Partners? "Founded in 2002, Strata is an independent corporate finance partnership headquartered in London that provides buy side and sell side mergers and...

18 Dec 2017

I got an MSF after one year of financial related work, then have been working in boutique IB for 3 years. I want to move on from my firm but I am finding opportunities limited. I think Grad School (either MBA or Law) could give me more opportunities. What do you think? Should I just keep working and...

17 Mar 2013

Hey guys, so I'm a rising junior in california at a non-target (think top 75 institution) interning at a boutique investment bank. I'm going through the 2018 SA recruiting process and I know I want to be at a larger firm next summer, but I'm conflicted about what to do post-grad. A VP at my current...

23 Aug 2017

Thank you WSO. I wish I could put it in more words, after months and 70+ applications, cold emails, cold calls, I finally landed an interview with a boutique bank in NYC and they offered me a long term intern analyst position (~6 months) which I believe could materialize into a FT gig. Background: -...

08 Jan 2011

I've spend a decent amount of time on WSO...mostly during my job searching days. I'm not a power user/reader/poster (I wonder who has the time...but the forum is like reading a morning paper to some folks). Anyway, I feel its time to pay-it-foward a little bit, with any advice I can give. I like to...

19 Mar 2013

Any advice would be much appreciated: I graduated from a non target this May with a Finance major (3.62 GPA). My internship experience consists of FP&A in a smaller commercial focused bank and a credit analyst at another small commercial bank. I started a 2 year Corp Fin development program at a...

24 Jan 2011

Received a verbal offer from a boutique PE firm for FT in NYC. Soon to get a written offer with comp info. Firm has under $400 MM in AUM. Team is very lean. 2 Analysts who do the heavy lifting on the modeling and underwriting, and 2 high level MD's/ Partners who speak to clients and bring in new...

21 Nov 2014

I'm a rising senior right now, and I need some advice regarding my goals/future. I go to a semi-target school with a 3.4 GPA in Finance. Right now, I don't have an internship lined up, but I do have an opportunity to work at a regional boutique investment bank in August for 3 months. Now, this bank...

04 Jul 2011

Just about to graduate from a non-target with a previous internship in DCM. I interviewed for a DCM analyst role at what I thought was a small firm, apparently it is one man small. The founder worked in DCM and syndicate at a bulge bracket for 15 years, then opened his own firm in 2012 doing...

27 Apr 2016

For background, I'm a college student looking to do either spring or fall internship in the 2021-2022 academic year, and I'd like to start reaching out to boutiques or smaller funds to explore this. Would obviously love a larger more reputable fund as well, however I'm unsure of off-cycle internship...

16 Mar 2021

Hello everybody, I have an upcoming interview with PwC's corporate finance division. First round is a video interview of two rounds, one behavioral and one case study. The second interview, if the first round goes well, will be in-person, presumably some combination of behavioral, technical, & case...

18 Oct 2017