Recent threads on LA banking have been very helpful and I want to extend the west coast conversation to San Francisco. If anybody has a good feel for the banking scene here, could you please share your thoughts / experiences? Especially interested in learning more about GS, MS, JEF, CVP, Laz and any other reputable firms that come to mind in this area. TIA!
03 Mar 2021
Hey guys! I'm trying to best understand the main differences between Bain NY vs SF; work culture, hours, industry mix, exit opportunities, etc. I'll be in an intern program where I'll have to state my preferences and can't begin to figure out how I'll go about choosing. I love everything about NYC and it looks like NYC may even be cheaper to live in than SF recently. I also come from IB background and am interested in exiting to PE and know Bain NY has a strong financial services deal flow. However, I've heard from a Bain SF employee that the work culture in the SF office is phenomenal; great
22 Jul 2021
Hi everyone! Would appreciate a detailed update about the TMT team at Mizuho SF office. Exit opps, comps, exposure, hours, culture, is it easy to lateral to a better EB/BB in SF, etc. I am trying to search where analysts there go after their first year but didn't find much success. Super appreciate the insights from all monkeys.
02 Jul 2021
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18 May 2021
Trying to figure out what industry/product focused teams have offices in San Francisco. Particularly interested in bulge brackets and e.boutiques as well as any consumer/retail focus If anyone could add to this list it would be greatly appreciated: Greenhill - advisory (M&A restx) Lazard - healthcare GS - TMT, generalist DB - Tech Barclays - Tech (Menlo Park) Moelis - Tech (Palo Alto) JPM - Tech Needed (in addition to any other groups that the above may cover): Evercore MS BAML CS Perella Weinberg Partners Peter J Solomon
30 Oct 2014
UPDATED: Date: Thursday, February 11, 2016 Time: 6:30pm - TBD Location: Schroeder's (Financial District) - 240 Front Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 What: Happy Hour (no host) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Happy New Year monkeys. As you're reviewing your accomplishments and setting your 2016 goals, I hope you're focusing on improving your network this coming year. One of my goals for this year is to improve relationships and share knowledge with fellow acquisition, Asset Management, and private equity real estate young
04 Jan 2016
Better get these started now than later, but fingers crossed that it will be in person. I would hate to spend my internship at home on a computer. Here's the groupme: You're invited to my new group 'Palo Alto Menlo Park 2021 SA' on GroupMe. Click here to join: https://groupme.com/join_group/63180139/kgDM9TqL
06 Oct 2020
New York City 2.907%-3.648% New York 4%-8.82% (more tax rates at the bottom of the post) Do you all consider income taxes of different cities when considering living there? I've read before that when city, state, and federal taxes are calculated for a wealthy New Yorker, their tax burden is about on par with London. Another thing that's important are the taxes that the above list doesn't consider: sales tax, property tax, etc. For example, Texas is known for its considerable property taxes. However, I doubt many people on here (I could be wrong) would want to BUY a house/apartment before 30
07 Jul 2015
Another typical city vs. city thread. What's your all's favorite city above, everything inclusive (including cost)? I'd like to revisit all three cities. Chicago has been my top choice for a while. Low cost of living, and a very urban feel (and beautiful). I don't think the winter would bother me as most people (used to live there when I was a kid). San Francisco seems great and I only hear good things about it. I'd like to try out the West Coast. I will admit the weather would be pretty nice. But the housing cost... I feel like if I'm paying that much I might as well be in NYC.
30 Sep 2014
I'm about to fly out to San Francisco for my last stage of the interview process and as long as I'm not a complete fuck-up I think I got this. The only problem is I can't figure out how much a first-year real estate analyst is paid in San Francisco. It's a REPE company that specializes in light industrial with there last capital fund they raised $350 million. Any help is appreciated!
28 Aug 2019
So the matchup is set -- the Baltimore Ravens will play the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. The game has plenty of storylines, one of the biggest being the head coaches for these two teams are brothers John and Jim Harbaugh. It will be a game of stingy defenses and electric offenses, with the 49ers running the read option and the Ravens with a deep vertical passing game set up by Ray Rice's runs (fuck Tampa Bay, Rice was the original Muscle Hamster before Doug Martin came along). So who do you guys want to win? Who do you think will win? I want the Ravens to win because I hate Randy Moss and never want him to get a ring, but I think the 49ers are just too good. 31-24 49ers is my prediction.
20 Jan 2013
Any insight into Jefferies / Houlihan TMT in San Francisco? How do the two compare in terms of culture, deal flow, and exit opportunities? Are either / both generally respected in the TMT space? I know there's been some upheaval at Jefferies with several new MD's coming over from CS in the past year, but it sounds like their deal flow has been pretty solid.
17 Mar 2017
Hello everybody, This is my first post so let me give you guys a little background about myself. Like the title says, I am 25 and a freshman in college. I am just starting down the road to my career in finance, and would like to eventually become an analyst. I currently work full-time (not finance related), and I live in the SF Bay area. The reason I created this post is because I wanted to get some opinions from people in the industry about my current job prospects. I would like to begin gaining some work experience and applicable skills. I'm not sure though where to find full-time positions
08 Jun 2015
Hey guys, I just recently accepted an offer in the SF bay area with a BB for banking in tech. Just wanted to get your thoughts on what the exit opps are like on the west coast for tech.... It seems like in NY, 1st years are approached like 6 months into the job by headhunters and can secure an offer 1 year into their job for PE/HF (give or take). There's a lot of buy side recruiting in NY obviously, but there's also a ton of analysts. It seems like there's a decent amount of buy side recruiting (PE, VC) on the west coast as well, but a fraction of the analysts.
25 Nov 2009
Alright dudes and dudettes. I'm considering being a traitor to the East Coast and setting up camp in San Francisco. Can anyone attest to quality of life in the area? Can you live comfortably off a salary of 50k or so? And most importantly - do you need a car, or is public transport good enough that I can get around to cool places, buy groceries, and make my way home to my outer-urban apartment without wanting to stab someone in impatience?
12 Nov 2013
Hey all, I would be applying for the class of 2017 and I would still like some advice. I go to a top 50 school and am an accounting undergrad, but it is a top undergrad accounting program. 3.6 GPA. Decent extracurriculars: college athletics, humanitarian service in foreign country, ESL tutor, and club VP. I have done internships with a local VC, a local HF, and a VC in the Middle East. Goal is to do banking in San Francisco. I am interested in doing a MSc in either the US or the UK. Top choices are: - US: MIT, Vandy, UVA, Duke MiM, CMC, USC - UK: Oxford, LSE, LBS MiM, UCL, Edinburgh
08 Jun 2015
I'm considering a Corp dev role in SF/San Mateo/Redwood area (~manager role which I gather is total comp of ~$150-200k). How's living in the area with that level of income as a 30 year old married person? Can I afford a house? Can I save at all?
15 Jan 2021
Long story short, I do not know very many people in the industry especially around my age (24) or at all for that matter. I work in REPE in SF and would like to meet more people in the industry and finance in general, I think it would be nice to be able to talk to someone about what I do (and what you do) without having to explain it to you like a 5 year old (very few finance friends lol) so if you are in SF comment here or shoot me a message so we can possibly connect. Also, if you are in another industry (banking, sales, etc) and stumbled on this I'm still interested in connecting with you
20 May 2015
Hey all, Starting this thread specifically for summer intern housing in SF. I understand it's a bit early, but given how expensive housing is in SF, I think it might be a good idea to start looking for housing/roommates! Ideally, looking for housing near financial district from Early June to First week of August. Not closed to just finance interns, non-finance interns looking for housing are also encouraged to join in ! (DM me if you are looking for roommates for summer 2019, more than happy to chat)
02 Oct 2018
For all of you who've been in banking for a couple of years, what do you remember the most about the recruitment process. I remember back in 2006, after my campus interviews I was flown to the West Coast office of Citigroup to interview in their SF office. All of the interviews were pretty standard but there was one interview that I will always remember. It was with a second year analyst, ****** ******, from Berkeley who made my 30 minutes the most uncomfortable half hour of my life.
23 Aug 2009
Hey guys, I attend a target and was surprised that none of the BB's are recruiting full-time for their San Francisco offices. GS and MS are all new york based for banking interviews, same with CS. Ultimately I want to end up in the tech industry and thought joining a tech group out west would give me better exposure and connections than working in NY where I did BB this summer. If I remember back to summer analyst recruiting last spring, I don't think Goldman or Morgan Stanley held interviews for those positions either. I know of one kid working at MS FSG but that was through connections. How are these offices filling their analyst classes, do they only recruit out west? I'm guessing they only hire FT out of their summer classes.
30 Aug 2009
Raymond James Real Estate IBD in St. Petersburg, FL Cowen Healthcare IBD in San Francisco, CA Jefferies Retail & Consumer Products IBD in Charlotte, NC Which would you choose? What are their reputations? Exit opps? Culture? Compensation? I would love to hear your opinions... It is regards to a SA position...
21 Feb 2012
Basically it boils down to this, graduated 3 years ago, and took a job in NYC that seemed alright in a BO/MO hybrid role. Mostly took it as the market was still in the shitter and i needed to pay the bills. Been promoted twice, but the luster has long since worn off. Just moved to San Francisco and pretty much im thinking new city, time to move to a new company and actually use my brain again. Not really sure how to go about trying to break into IBD (if its even possible not being an undergrad coming out of school) or anything else. Went to a semi-target dual major in Finance/German with relevant internship in Frankfurt at a boutique M&A shop. Any advice or just a reality check is appreciated. Or if anyone has suggestions of shops out here that might be viable let me know.
16 Apr 2014
Hey WSO, With the communities help last year I finally landed an investment banking internship at a middle market brokerage in Toronto. Since the commute was terrible, I slept on my grandpa's laundry room floor for four months, haha. After the four months, I realized if I want a career in tech banking or VC I need relocate to the valley. Since my internship I've got to do a couple due diligence projects at a VC locally but there's not an opportunity to join FT. Prior to the internship I've been starting businesses from my bedroom since I was 12.
03 Apr 2014
This one goes out to the entrepreneurs on the site. Some of you may remember an entrepreneurship challenge I highlighted on the site back in December. The Shopify Challenge was the brainchild of 4-Hour Work Week guru Tim Ferriss and store-building website Shopify. A company had to be started from scratch and revenues were measured over a six-month period from January through June. The grand prize went to the company with the two highest months of revenue. The winner is a San Francisco-based start-up that succeeded by providing a decidedly low-tech accessory to a high-tech item. DODOcase
21 Jul 2010
Does anyone have any info on Perella Weinberg's SF office? I've heard a little about the NY and London offices, but it doesn't look like SF has been doing any deals. I know the office was just started about 18 months ago or so, and sometimes it can take a while to get things through the pipeline. But many tech offices have opened up around the same time and have worked on some pretty compelling deals (Qatalyst advised on Data Domain/ EMC, Brocade/Foundry; Allen recently broke into the consumer web space; even Union Square has done a few). Am really looking to pursue something with the firm, so
22 Feb 2010
Hey all, Just got an invite for a superday in Citi's SF office for their technology IBD team. I was hoping for some color on their interview process, recent deals worked on, culture, average analyst class size, anything. A lot of the posts regarding this group are pretty outdated - I read that they hired Ethan Topper in 2011 and hired some MDs from DB pretty recently so I was curious if their deal flow had improved. Thanks.
30 Sep 2016
How does the culture across BB, MM, and elite boutiques differ in the SF Bay Area (specifically in the TMT groups)?
15 Jul 2014
I know we rarely talk startup and VC scene here in the Oasis, but a new startup based here in SoMA has thought of an idea to secure seed funding that is so profound I can't tell if they're brilliantly bold or just idiots trying to mask an awful product. I just had to share it here. Either way, I think TechCrunch put it best...
It's not a bubble until startups are rapping for seed funding.See for yourself!
16 Nov 2011
Hey everyone, I'll be going into investment banking in SF starting this summer and I just wanted to ask my fellow finance guys for some tips. I don't know anyone in the area and I'm not familiar with SF at all. I'm currently looking into leasing a studio and I was wondering if anyone could provide any insight on how to go about searching for apartments in SF. Does anyone have opinions on which parts of SF are ideal and which parts I should avoid? Is it crucial to stay walking distance to downtown? Is a car essential? Any other things you guys think I should consider? Any input you guys may
23 Mar 2015
I am a first-year MBA with two summer options in front of me: 1. A Corporate Development (M&A, Partnerships, Integrations) internship with a premier HR tech firm in SF. 2. A MM IB (M&A) internship doing primarily sell-side work (Non-NY/SF/Chicago). Firm does not have a tech focus. Background: 1. Non-target MBA program in the Mid-West 2. Big 4 Consultant prior (specialized audit/consulting) Questions 1. How hard would it be for me to do a summer in IB and then land a SF Corp Dev role for full time? 2. What are the downsides of starting straight in Corp Dev post-MBA? 3. What sort of salary could
04 Feb 2019
Would love any insight on the following: Lazard SF (tech) vs. Houlihan LA (TMT) vs. BAML LA (generalist)
03 Sep 2015
Hey WSO community, I've done a few searches already and want to know how the tech groups stack up outside of the BB level. I'm not asking for a formal "ranking" because I know everyone hates those, but which of the "Elite Boutique" players have the most reputable tech practices? I know Qatalyst obviously kills it, but how do Greenhill/Moelis/Lazard/Evercore/Blackstone/Parella/etc. stack up? Who else is worth paying attention to? (Savvian, Sagent, etc.) Perhaps my inquiry is most easily remedied via league tables. Can someone please post activity for Tech M&A?
12 Mar 2011
Hey all. Has anyone heard of anything about Alpine Investors? Any insight on their culture, reputation, and comp would be appreciated. They are a low/middle market private equity firm based in San Francisco
01 Sep 2017
Last post on this seemed to be from over a year ago, but curious about the reputation and culture of healthcare groups in SF. I know that CVP/Laz/JPM all have quality HC groups in SF, but curious if anyone can provide more color on current developments in the area.
01 Nov 2021
Hi! I interviewed last week on Friday May 14th with LionTree's office in SF. Has anyone heard back from the team yet? Did they say when we should expect to be notified about whether or not we were accepted into the program? Thank you!!
21 May 2021
Is it still just TMT and HC? Any additional context you can give on the groups / culture? Much thanks!!
22 Jul 2015
Can anyone offer any insight on the culture, deal flow, hours and reputation of Houlhan Lokey's TMT practice in San Francisco?
09 Oct 2015
Moving down to SF in April/May, looking to find a roommate to find a place with or a room in a house to move into. A bit about me: - 22-year-old white male, went to a west coast state school, was in a fraternity (a real one, not a business frat) - Working for a non BB/EB investment bank, weekdays are tough but Saturdays are free and Sundays aren't that bad but consistent work. FWIW, more interested in Corp Dev/Strategic Finance than trying to break into PE/GE/VC - Run almost every day, watches NBA/NFL, cooking/travel shows, comedies - Somewhat -heavy left-leaning, I'd say I like Bernie but am
23 Mar 2021
Hi guys, I work at a HF (AUM ~USD 10bn+) in Toronto, Canada within research. It is a fundamental, long only investment firm. I am considering a move to SF or NY in 2022. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
19 Apr 2021
Does anyone have suggestions on the best sources through which to find summer housing within San Francisco? Preferably near the Financial District (Nob Hill, Russian Hill, North Beach, etc)
16 Dec 2014
Hey guys, I know there's a few topics on this, but most of them are quite old. I was wondering what you guys think are the top tech groups in SF, and which have the best exits? I know there's GS, Q, MS, CS, etc. but how would you rank them? Thanks for any help.
11 Aug 2014
Work located in financial district. I need a place starting in June/late May. Can I get a studio in a residential area(away from downtown, noise) for this much? I would appreciate if someone can recommend specific rental communities and the price. I prefer an area which looks like the equivalent of the Upper West side(around Columbia University)-ie young families, not too commercial. Ps. I'm married so spouse will be visiting a lot so really can't live with other people.
16 Jan 2012
Between San Fran and Chicago, where would you rather live if you worked in private equity? Things I need to consider include: Career/networking opportunities Weather Cost of living Lifestyle (lots of young people, bars, fun things to do) Location in the United States Don't need to tell me what you think I should do, just give me your opinions on each city.
18 May 2011
hey guys, i have an interview at gp bullhound at their SF office. anyone know what to expect / what it'll be like or what kind of people they are? thanks
19 Apr 2011
best bars in SF for tonight... spit
20 Jul 2010
#3 on this list: http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-reasons-san-francisco-worst-awesome-city-…
Supposedly near a really busy mall and near a main street.25 Jan 2014
Can anyone shed some light on any leveraged finance groups that sit on the West Coast? I'm only aware of WF in SF but looking to see if any other MM/BB LevFin groups are in CA as well.
18 Feb 2016
Just wondering what the culture and hours are like at Piper Jaffray's SF office. Tried running a search here, but all I come across are the typical knocks on its lack of prestige and the "that's so Piper Jaffray-ish" remarks.
22 Apr 2010
not the biggest fan of new york (personal preference), so would love to know fellow monkeys' thoughts on the pro's and con's of each of these cities for banking (besides the obvious tech and healthcare for sf, industrials for chicago)
12 Jun 2011
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