Career Path to be Making ~$300K at 30?

I will be returning full time to a respected MM (think HL, RJ, HW) and am debating long-term career options. I am perfectly fine grinding it out for several years, but at some point I want to have a better work/life balance. I know this comes at the cost of compensation, and I am not looking to be making $1M+ by 35, but I still want to be able to make a decent living. From a pure pay and work/life balance perspective, what is the best way to achieve a ~$300K total comp while working 50-60 hours per week on average by 30, with some upward potential beyond that? Will a F100 Corp Dev role get you there, or is the comp going to be low? What about LMM PE or family offices? 

I am strongly considering going A2A and then exiting to one of corp dev, LMM PE or family office after 5-6 years in IB (potentially earlier). Obviously it will vary depending on firm, deal flow, etc., but are my objectives ($300K all-in and 50-60 hour weeks by 30) realistically achievable in one of these fields? If not, is there another job in finance that will? I would ideally be in a Tier 2 / 3 city (DEN, CHT, DAL, etc.) after the ~5 years in banking, but will be starting out in one of (CHI, LA, BOS). 

Am I thinking about this all wrong? Is this realistically attainable? Appreciate any thoughts on this.

5 Comments
 

Very possible, directors in my group (VP equivalent in IB) make around that much with 50-60 hour weeks. I work in private credit at a large insurance company.

 

LMM PE, pensions, SWF, family offices, private credit, PE secndaries -- all realistic options

although if you stay in IB you'd be a senior VP / director by 30 so depending on firm maybe you're only working 60-65 ish by then which isn't bad while making ~500k

 

Thanks for the insight. What about corp dev? Can you realistically make $300K at 30 there?

 

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