The Buy-Side vs. The Sell-Side: The Worst Way to Categorize Finance Firms?

“Yo, you’ll make bank when you move to the buy-side! Screw this stupid investment banking job.”

“Yeah, I heard everyone at hedge funds makes at least $1 million and gets a castle as their signing bonus.”

“So when’s your interview?”

Ah, yes: that classic debate about the buy-side vs. the sell-side. Although the conversation above is fictional, similar exchanges are taking place in cubicles across the world as you read this.

You hear about the buy-side vs. sell-side distinction everywhere, whether you search online, browse through you message boards, or even (gasp) talk to people in real life.

The only problem is that “buy-side vs. sell-side” is the worst way to categorize financial services firms.

Equity Research: A Day in the Life, Pay, and Exit Opportunities – Got Hedge Funds?

You’ve broken into equity research by following the detailed advice from our interviewee, and now you’re about to start working.

If I had a magic 8-ball, I’d guess you might be curious about:

• What an average day in your life will be like.
• How much time you spend on modeling vs. reports vs. research.
• How much money you’ll make – at the entry-level and once you’ve become Chief Monkey.
• What the hours and culture are like.
• Exit opportunities and how you can leverage ER to get into top business schools.

Luckily, you won’t be so curious after reading part 2 of this interview – where we answer all of those and more.

A Day in the Life

Becoming Donald Trump: How to Break Into Commercial Real Estate, Build an Empire, and Launch Your Own Reality TV Series

This is a guest post from Mike Moran, CFA, a portfolio manager at a long-only asset management firm. He started Life on the Buy Side to teach you what it’s like working in asset management, hedge funds, and more.

When it comes to commercial real estate, you’ve got 2 choices: do something extremely risky, or do something boring and conservative.

OK, you could also pick something middle of the spectrum – but what fun is that?

If you have your sights set on becoming the next Donald Trump and building a real estate empire, you’re going to have to take the leap and embrace the risk with open arms.

And if you want your own reality TV series on top of all that, you’ll have to become a real baller – so here’s how you do it: