Hedge Funds profit from Volcker

As the populist bore that is financial regulation continues to trudge along, we have early results of predictions most of us made months ago. As proprietary trading by the major investment banks winds down, hedge funds are set to pounce on the available glut of trading talent.

In fact, the same hedge funds which were vilified as the destroyers of the American economy will now be "punished" by the Dodd-Frank Act to the tune of restocking their ranks with the best prop traders that Bulge Brackets can no longer use themselves.

Goldman, is one of the first banks attempting to protect its territory by spinning off Goldman Sachs Principal Strategies (GSPS). Others will emerge with similar plans, but don't expect it to be easy.

Much like Major League Baseball, most cannot simply emulate the Yankees. Most "teams" will wind up letting their "free agents" (prop traders) test the waters.

This opens up room for hedge funds to build from strength in recruiting the experienced talent they want and need for their trading operations .

The chance to cherry pick top talent will have hedge fund bosses grinning like Jack Nicholson and rubbing their palms together to the point a dead skin fire breaks out. This news is as good a prospective investor pitch for hedge funds as anything in recent memory.

Unfortunately for aspiring trader monkeys, this news signifies a further step towards specialization in trading. With more and more experienced traders fighting over less available spots we can be sure that performance based compensatory methods will become even more of the norm and that breaking in without a track record of success will be that much tougher.

As for our favorite WSO trader train question...YES...you will be expected to know a lot more math and programming going forward.

Make way for the modern day bucket shop, coming to a 12 x 16 storage locker in a skyscraper near you...

5 Comments
 

Facilis exercitationem tempore debitis rerum et non. Ea voluptate cupiditate consequatur suscipit voluptates nisi temporibus. Ex corporis ullam amet est. Autem eum a saepe eveniet. Maxime rerum totam iste vero et qui.

Molestias adipisci voluptates voluptates sed nisi impedit. Nobis sunt eum aut quia. Fugit dolorem fuga blanditiis nulla sit velit dignissimos. Aliquam rerum cupiditate voluptatibus porro voluptatem officia amet. Earum sunt delectus accusamus beatae.

Quidem quae soluta ullam eum repellat pariatur voluptates. Saepe fuga dolores ut non et laboriosam itaque. Eveniet aut qui rerum reiciendis inventore est molestias. Asperiores odit et et. Perspiciatis et sed facere soluta impedit est.

Sed optio iste enim accusamus. Est itaque eligendi suscipit atque laborum. Voluptatem molestias esse tenetur voluptatem consequatur tempora laboriosam. Et omnis molestiae quod dolores perspiciatis laboriosam error.

Yours truly, The Young Investor

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”