Biggest bonus of your career

Not in need of some motivation, just interested to hear some success stories. How well were you compensated during your best year to date? Additionally, what's the biggest bonus you personally know someone received in this space? 


Role: Analyst at L/S equity pod (recent hire)

Location: NYC

Bonus: $130k

 

MM or SM? If MM, how big is your sleeve / how high returns did you have to put up to get paid that?

 

This was in 2014 (based on 2013 performance). At the time I was a partner at the fund (sr analyst but had trade authority) with 3 years at the fund. Prior to that I had 1 year at a family office and prior to that was 2+2 banking/pe

 

In 2009 (2008 bonus conversation), my boss told me "i got good news and I got bad news - the good news is that you made a lot of money for the firm". 

I have a friend who lives in the country, and it's supposed to be an hour from 42nd Street. A lie! The only thing that's an hour from 42nd Street is 43rd Street!
 

Not a bonus but received a 150k commission on a huge life insurance sale (just my piece, the actual broker got about 500k) several yrs ago. 3 50M policies on a buy/sell succession plan. Was a yr in the making.

Here's the reality and I imagine bonuses in IB, HF, PE etc. feel the same way. Initially (ahead of doing all the work) I felt "wow we are way overpaid for this stuff" and a yr later after dealing with all the lawyers and CPAs and bankers and underwriters I switched my thinking to "wow we are way underpaid for this stuff."  Probably 20 different starts and stops and countless times it came close to unraveling. 

But it was a nice day. 

 

There are always guys at the MM/LMM banks that stay there because the firm has agreed to pay them in cash because they are such rainmakers. My old boss (head of a coverage group at a MM) made 10m+ one year. I got 90k that year as a third-year IB analyst...

 

These numbers are insane. Truly mind-boggling for someone not in Banking. 

I'm a resident physician and exactly 0 attending physicians get a bonus. People on here are bitching about making more in bonus ($90k) than my annual salary ($60k) as a hard working professional. Basic numbers here matching or exceeding the average yearly numbers for a full-time surgeon ($300s). 

I had been trying to escape Medicine for Banking but then freaking COVID delayed that a bit. Can't wait to make some real money.

 

Have you considered equity research in biopharma? Bonuses are lower, but the base salary is higher than what you cited.

Biotech specifically is a growing sector and always looking for candidates with advanced life sciences/medical backgrounds. ER recruitment also doesn’t seem to be too impacted due to COVID since I’ve had a fair share of friends secure offers (though they were already in the industry). If you’re set on banking, it may also be easier to lateral from ER if you’re in, too.

 

Lol. You make it sound like making $600k is a walk in the park for a physician. That's a top 5% salary. Funny enough I'm in Interventional Radiology and the salaries you cited are not correct. Mid 300s is more accurate. Someone in the middle of nowhere can crush it, yes, but not for people who want to live in a metro. Listen that's not a bad salary but you dont start making that until mid-30s and with often $300k+ of student debt. That's precisely why I am transitioning careers and also will push my son into banking.

 

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