Am I too old to be an Analyst?

It would be very strange at my firm, we’ve never had one over 25. People would make fun of you

I personally think even just getting 6 months to a year on your resume will open the door to higher pay opportunities than where you are today. If its a newborn and your wife is already stresses, maybe not the play but if she is supportive and willing to pick up the extra slack in care, it could have a meaningful impact on your earnings going forward. You don’t need to stay in IB, can pivot one year in to corp dev and double your salary and earnings ceiling.

I've worked with analysts that went into armed forces and then did college or MBA for officers. The age can work. Your biggest question is while your wife says she will support it, will she really? Worst case is take it and then back out if it doesn't work for your family and blame that to the next job. Sorry, my wife encouraged me to do it, but we realized that I can't manage X hours for our family needs...X hours (whatever is required) sounds more manageable for our life circumstances. It's not perfect, but if you want it, go do it. I also think setting proper expectations at home is critical.

Your point is what concerns me as well. I do think she is encouraging me because she knows it comes with a significant pay raise, but may be taking the help I provide and my being home at 5:30pm every day for granted. 

We used to have an analyst in his mid 30's. It's very team and geography dependent. In Houston, I don't think anyone really cared. Might raise an eyebrow or two in NYC, but again, this is nowhere near as big a deal if you want to do a long-term career in banking. You seem to be forgetting that people do MBAs during their late 20's just to be associates. I suggest you go for it, but if and only if your wife is all-in on the time investment. We had people make the switch to Aso in their mid 30's and their families were fully invested. 

Totally valid concern — 26 isn’t too old at all, but banking with a family will be tough. If it’s something you’ve always wanted and your wife’s on board, it could be worth it for the long-term upside. Just go in knowing the hours will be rough and make sure the trade-off makes sense for your family.

You’re definitely not too old. Many people start banking at 26–28, especially if they’ve had other finance roles first. Banks care more about capability and attitude than exact age. If you already have valuation and advisory experience, you’ll likely ramp up faster than younger hires.

The main trade-off is lifestyle. Banking hours can be brutal, and with a baby at home, you’ll feel that pressure more. Still, boutique banks tend to offer better work-life balance than bulge brackets. If this has been your goal for years and your family is supportive, it could be worth doing for a few years to build income and experience.

Plenty of people take analyst or associate roles later and pivot afterward into corporate finance, FP&A, or buy-side jobs with more balance. The key is to go in knowing the grind and having a plan for how long you’ll stay before you transition to something steadier.

I’m 27 about to be 28 and I’m an analyst. I’ll likely make associate in a year or two. Previously thought about an MBA that would’ve started last fall so I would’ve been an associate by 28/29. The reality is yes you’re a bit older than the traditional analyst coming out of 4 years of undergrad but if you are gonna stay to associate then you have a lot of people who switch into IB in their 30s with full families. You should ask yourself is it worth it that yes you’ll make significantly more, will you be willing to sacrifice family time or doing things with your friends. If you can grind it out for a little then do it because the offers to jump come very quickly. I think worst case scenario do it for a year or two and leave for something on the corp side that has better WLB. Even then you’d be highly compensated on the other side.

You need buy in from your wife. You will not be home by 10 PM, it will be closer to 1-2 AM. Can you wife handle the family for 1-2 years? Not just lip service, but actually? Do you trust her or is she one of those people who will collapse under the pressure?

I know a 34y old analyst in zurich . You're good.

Give it up unc

Wouldn’t become an analyst with a baby at home, personally.

Yeah I’d that’s what you want to do for work do it. Your not too old. Besides you’ll probs have a lot of perspectives from previous jobs that 22 year olds will not 

27 definitely isn’t too old  plenty of people pivot into IB later with solid experience. The hours are tough, but if your family’s supportive and you’ve always wanted to do it, it’s worth considering. Just be clear on expectations and how much balance you realistically need.

Go for it dog. I just turned 27 and I’m a senior analyst on a TMT group. Army, graduated at 25, and spent 2 years in commercial banking. That jump from 70k to 150k and beyond will be worth it. We’ll all be working until we’re 60+. There’s plenty of time and the life you can provide for your kid and future kids will be worth it. Buckle down and get it done. Make sure the Mrs. is on board and take adequate time for your family. 

If you think being a banker is your call, say you perfectly envision yourself becoming an MD and your wife is also very supportive of the entire grind that takes place to get there, then go for it. It's never too late to do that which you feel might be your call.

However, if you just see it as a corporate "upgrade" to move to something a bit better paid and more interesting - but you're unsure about where you want to be in the next 5/10/15 years - then avoid it as there are better ways to eventually get in a cushy position and have time also for your kid(s).

Will say that one benefit of getting into banking later is that you tend to be more intentional with your path and what you want to extract from the experience. For example, someone who joined as an analyst at 22 or 23 may feel they have learned enough and want to explore other options. In your early 20s, you are still in the exploration phase/seeking self-actualization/wanting to see what else is out there/finding yourself. But past 25 you should start thinking more long-term and hopefully strategize better, which means you should have a stronger 'why' for pursuing banking (factor also how much you want to be there for your kids or other committments in the next years). 

Can think of countless of guys that reached the top of banking and joined in their 25-30s, for example Robert Rubin joined at 28yo, Blankfein at 27yo, Weinstein at 27yo, and a shit ton of other guys at the top came after 25yo (as a matter of fact, 25yo seems to have been the sweet spot and not early). It's an interesting observation because when your first job is banking, I think you're at a disadvantage as you fall quickly into the mindset of "is that what I will do for 30 or 40 years? I need to see more things before deciding that's what I will do for all my life" so you have FOMO and aren't as aggressive and decided to dedicate yourself fully to climb the finance ladder.

and for the record, you're not comparing yourself with the entry age of your analyst/other associates or even VPs. Your full focus, once you get in banking, is to think long-term and not about what some sweaty big mac eater that sits on your right does and thinks. Eyes always on the prize.

Welcome to finance, where “late” is just 27 and “early bedtime” is a myth.

Honestly, lots of people jump in later — the grind is real, but so is the payoff if you’re strategic. Just mentally budget for bedtime stories over spreadsheets, and maybe start practicing your “I’m on a work call” voice for diaper duty.

As long as you are Ok receiving orders from an 23yo An2, a 24yo As and a 27yo VP, your good. Not trying to be condescending about your age, just something i've seen some older analysts/associates struggle with.

Roommates in NY one is 29 and the other is 31, both first years

The question isn't if you're too old (you really aren't, worked w/ multiple analysts in their mid- / late-20s when I was in banking). Just make sure your wife is truly fully on board with this.