Consulting Articles > MBB Consulting Vs Other Careers > Investment Banker vs MBB Consultant

  1. Nature of work: Investment bankers typically provide financial advice and raise capital for clients, while MBB consultants provide strategic and operational advice to organizations.
  2. Education and qualifications: Investment bankers typically have an undergraduate or graduate degree in finance, economics or related field, while MBB consultants often have advanced degrees such as MBA's and have completed a rigorous selection process.
  3. Career progression: Investment bankers generally follow a structured career progression, with different levels of experience and responsibilities, while MBB firms have a more fluid career progression with different titles and roles.
  4. Industry focus: Investment bankers typically specialize in a particular area of finance such as mergers and acquisitions or equity research, while MBB consultants work across a variety of industries.
  5. Work environment: Investment bankers typically work in investment banks, while MBB consultants work in consulting firms.
  6. Compensation: Investment bankers and MBB consultants are both well-paid, but the compensation structure may differ, with Investment bankers earning a salary and bonuses, and MBB consultants earning a salary, bonuses, and equity in the firm.
  7. Work-life balance: Investment bankers have a reputation for long hours and high stress, while MBB firms also have demanding work schedules, but some MBB firms have made efforts to improve work-life balance.
  8. Relationships with clients: Investment bankers have a formal relationship with clients, while MBB consultants often build personal relationships with clients.
  9. Professional responsibility: Investment bankers have a high level of professional responsibility, as they are responsible for the financial performance of their clients, while MBB consultants are not responsible for the financial performance of the organizations they are advising.
  10. Impact on society: Investment bankers work to raise capital for companies and governments, which can have a broader impact on society, while MBB consultants work to improve the performance and competitiveness of organizations, which can have a broader impact on society.

Start with our FREE Consulting Starter Pack

  • FREE* MBB Online Tests

    MBB Online Tests

    • McKinsey Ecosystem
    • McKinsey Red Rock Study
    • BCG Casey Chatbot
    • Bain SOVA
    • Bain TestGorilla
  • FREE* MBB Content

    MBB Content

    • Case Bank
    • Resume Templates
    • Cover Letter Templates
    • Networking Scripts
    • Guides
  • FREE* MBB Case Interview Prep

    MBB Case Interview Prep

    • Interviewer & Interviewee Led
    • Case Frameworks
    • Case Math Drills
    • Chart Drills
    • ... and More
  • FREE* Industry Primers

    Industry Primers

    • Build Acumen to Solve Cases!
    • 250+ Industry Primers
    • 70+ Video Industry Tours
    • 9 Structured Sections
    • B2B, B2C, Service, Products