So I received an offer that is +45k putting my total salary at 170 as a senior and I tried counter offering but my partner said to me that money will always be there but that I can’t buy connections and growth. I don’t understand the mindset behind this? Isn’t more money today worth more than more money tomorrow?

While it's a tough to leave a job where you're clearing doing well and are well liked, $45k is a significant jump imo for you not to do it. And that's such a bs excuse - I made connection and grew my network by moving jobs not staying at the same one forever. And the people you met at EY will always be your connections wherever you go unless you do something to burn bridges, as stated above. Congrats OP - that's a nice chunk of change :)

While I do value you and the rest of my network I still have to make the best decision for my family where we are today. I’m humbly asking for a 20% increase on my current salary to bring me to 150k or please help me understand my trajectory over the next off cycle promotion period. You know what, nah...if you guys rock with me then accept me as a boomerang 2-3 yrs when I’m on my way back smarter and more experienced and more financially stable! 👋🏾

Your partner doesn’t want you to leave and is trying to convince you to stay in a way the firm won’t have to pay for

Focus on the type of work you want to do, and the money will come. Ive seen so many people leave and end up hating their jobs because they chased money.

If you like the job and the money is more, great - go for it!

Sorry, wow I’m really bad at explaining. +45k new offer is from the firm I’m applying to. My current employer’s partner asked me to stay citing intangible assets such as connections.

They’re trying to say a strong network is hard to build which I agree with. It’s tough going to a new job and building a network. I don’t know how to respond to it to continue negotiating.....But I do think unless you’re really BFFs with higher ups or people moving up the ranks quickly I’ve seen people with “strong” networks get completely screwed over when they make a mistake on a project including low salaries raise and bonuses

I’m confused, are you saying you went back to your current employer with this counter offer and asked them to match it?

Leave, your partner is too cheap to even meet you part of the way so they gave you some bs..

If money is always going to be there and doesn’t matter according to your partner, why isn’t (s)he ready to match your offer?🤷🏻‍♂️

And btw in what exact ways your current connections are going to help you?

HA! We like to use a term for this, it’s “f$&@ you, pay me”. I left KPMG at 95k and had an offer for 120k. Senior manager tried to get me to stay saying “you’ll easily make that in a couple years” LOL-ed to the bank

He thinks you're a sucker and is trying some cheap words on the off chance that they work on you

You’ll make connections at your new job making 45k more? Lol

Can connections and growth pay your bills? Can it go into your bank account? Getcha money OP

Tell your current partner that you’re a capitalist. Also tell them that you look forward to maintaining great relationships and plan on working together in the future.

Take this as a compliment that they are trying to give you the hard sell to stay. EY isn’t going to match $170k senior salary in this market unless you had a unique critical client situation.

Good luck! Is this your first move?

I think that partner is wrong and got it the other way around. The connections will always be there but the money/offer won’t last forever! Grab the 💰 and move forward! Your connections will grow as you meet new colleagues.

“If a hater tells you money ain’t everything, then he don’t want you to get none”
- Jay Rock

He gave you the speech he’s supposed to give people who ask for a match on a $10-15k bump. $45k is a substantial raise and pulls you 3-4 years ahead of your current comp trajectory. Take it and don’t look back. Congrats.

Tell that to your partner if their client pays same money YoY but gives more connections.
Does EY or any company have objective that their company’s mission is about connections and NOT money. Wall street doesnt count your connections.

EY pays under market for years of experience relative to Deloitte, PWC and Accenture and other than certain units like TAS/Parthenon and a handful of others, it has a reputation of being inconsistent from a quality perspective.

EY has great teams an delivery in pockets but it lacks depth and still hasn’t made the commitment to be a consulting company.

You are likely to get better pay and opportunities to develop outside EY than you are within.

This is a no brainier. Take the money. No network is worth $45k in this business.