I know it's early, but has anyone received any sort of clue as to what 2015 bonuses should look like for analysts, assuming the market maintains the status quo? Assuming that the ibankers here who have seen multiple bonus rounds would be able to add some solid input.
Reason I ask it because this is a big year for analyst comp. With the change from mid-year to calendar year cycle for analysts and coupled salary increase (mine went from $70-$90k), there will surely be a change in bonus levels. But coinicidentally, we are having a record breaking M&A year (both Global and NA), and therefore we should get a boost to our bonus, right? If we are on track to beat 2007 levels, it would make sense that analysts would get bonuses similar to 2007 (we are surely working hard enough, I haven't had a Sunday off in 2015 yet and haven't worked a week less than 90 hours).
However, I can't imagine a bulge bracket bank paying out $90-$100k bonuses to 1st years post-crisis, and potentially using this $15-$20k salary bump as an excuse to avoid paying substantial bonuses despite record M&A.
Just speculation, but it does have an impact on if I wait for year-end bonus or take a private equity gig for summer 2015.
Interesting to hear what others are thinking.