IB or Arms Dealing need URGENT advice.
Hi all, bit of context; I did my SA at a top BB in LevFin and got my return offer. Everything is set up for the usual path grind out two years, lateral to PE, and work my way up. But I’ve got a completely different opportunity that I never expected to land on my plate.
Through family connections and some introductions in the right circles, I’ve been offered the chance to work under a private arms broker. This isn’t some underground black market gig, it’s fully legal, government-to-government defense contracting, working with military suppliers, private security firms, and sovereign buyers. The guy running the business is well-established, has been in the game for decades, and operates across the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe. He’s in his 50s now and is looking for someone younger to mentor and eventually take over the business.
At first, I wouldn’t be doing anything glamorous mostly be a paper pusher, dealing with export licenses, compliance paperwork etc etc. I’d also be handling the logistics of moving weapons and equipment, coordinating with suppliers, buyers, and legal teams to make sure deals actually close. Over time, though, he wants to bring me into negotiations and deal making, teaching me how to build relationships with government officials, security firms, and defense manufacturers.
The upside is insane. Even junior brokers in this business can make serious money, and once I start closing my own deals, commissions can reach seven or even eight figures per transaction. The business is high risk but also high reward, and I’d be traveling constantly to places like Dubai, Geneva, Singapore, sitting in on negotiations that make IB deals look like child’s play. Unlike the structured IB/PE path, there’s no clear career ladder here it’s all about what I can execute. I’ll be honest that I’ve been somewhat risk adverse my whole life (hence why I was going for finance) but having this opportunity is pushing me to change my mind.
The risks are very real. Legal and compliance issues are a constant threat, and I’d have to be extremely careful to ensure everything is done by the book. Reputation wise, this isn’t exactly a traditional career move, and if I ever wanted to pivot back to finance, it might not be easy. There’s also the moral aspect, people would say this business is ethically questionable, though I’d argue IB/PE isn’t exactly saving the world either.
I have 2 weeks to decide. If I take my return offer, I stay on the safe, well-worn path. If I take this, I’m stepping into a completely different world where credentials don’t matter, only execution does. Would love to hear from anyone who’s worked in defense, security, or non-traditional finance is this the kind of opportunity you take, or am I completely out of my mind?
Take the role if you are sure that the mentor fits you well and he wants to mentor you to be handover the biz. You can find some videos on arms dealing on Youtube where they interview some ppl and even from those things can seriously go wrong if you don't follow DoD / export rules.
I would take the risk given that it is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you don't have any life responsibilities now (if you are okay with arms dealing). If it doesn't work out you can do MBA / go to defense industry first and then MBA and then IB
Thank you! Very helpful
Take the arms dealing gig. IB will always be there but the other opportunity won’t and it sounds like a lot of people’s dream job
If you’re interested in firearms then the arms dealing gig is a no brainer. Banking is a much more accessible path nowadays but arms dealing is something nobody is going to just wander into from a normal corp dude pipeline. You could easily pivot back and do banking in some defense coverage group out of Tyson’s Corner. Really cool opportunity to do something very interesting + lucrative instead of the typical path. Probably single digit number of people who have ever made this choice. Good luck with it.
Is this with Henrich Thomet or someone of that sort?
Not Thomet, but someone with a similar level of experience and connections been in the game for decades and has built a strong network with both manufacturers and buyers. Definitely not a small time player
Out of interest why does 50 year old, after several of decades of work, suddenly decide that he wants a new random kid to be his apprentice and take over his business? Why wouldn't he sell it it to a competitor? You're not family to keep the legacy going. Does he not have an existing number 2?
Arms dealer all day and don’t look back. Exit opps include warlord or, if you’re good enough, oligarch.
How much for a used F-16 btw?
Order one F16 for me too. Get a discount, and I'll send the paypal
100000% agree with others, take that unique once in a lifetime opportunity. Go on and never look back Nick Cage.
Thank you all for your advice! Overwhelming consensus seems to be to take the arms dealing “apprenticeship” so I’ll be going with that!
Anytime these weapons are actually used they are either killing/maiming young men like us or civilians… only difference is they were born in the wrong place and forced/coerced to fight and we were born in the right one. Idk man that’s just how I see it . Shit creeps me out.
Red-hot take: if you can, defer the arms brokering by a year, and spend your first year in IB. Just one year - it does not hurt to ask and I would imagine the opportunity will still be there in a year (this is not structured, after all).
Appreciate the advice, and I actually agree, it would be ideal to get a year of IB under my belt before making the jump. Unfortunately, that’s not really an option in this case. The guy running the business is very old-school, and I get the sense that if I try to defer, he’ll just move on to someone else. He’s built everything on trust and personal relationships, and isn’t the type to wait around while I ‘test the waters’ in IB. I don’t think he’d take it personally, but he’d probably see it as a lack of commitment, and once that door closes, it’s closed for good.
Well that makes it easy - you're absolutely making the right decision then. I don't think you will regret betting on that type of person. Good luck!
If this is real, take the arms dealer gig. The levels of government you interact with will allow for plenty of opportunities down the road, including IB. I'd also expect you'd be a guarantee for a top MBA if it doesn't work out, assuming the admins aren't to squeamish. I'd also expect that you'd have a future with one of the big defense contractors.
P.S. I'm still at 50/50 that this guy just watched Lord of War with Nicholas Cage. The guy behind that movie recently got traded back to Russia for the freaking moron, Brittany Griner. Terrible deal...we should have let them keep her.
War Dogs, if you need an associate pmo
.
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Take the risk on this man, why not. This could be you in a few years.
Lol beat me to the punch
super diddy
Was in a similar situation and ended up in finance. I’d love to go back to Defense related work but from a finance perspective. My employer on the defense side fell through after our contracts and funding dried up unexpectedly due to political changes.
I found out pretty quickly that my skills and history were not only not looked at favourably by many in finance/consulting but that certain experiences was looked at as problematic, and that many hiring managers/recruiters took this as a reflection on me. It took a long while to rebrand and tailor my experiences in a more palatable and marketable way for folks in finance to engage with.
I share this all to say, it’s high risk, it can be fun, you of course need strong ethics, but most importantly it’s not something you can openly share or connect with others about. It can be socially isolating, most people will find it off putting and those that don’t will think it’s cool for all the wrong reasons. You have to dance around what you do to most people as they won’t understand the nuances of what exactly you do and the industries purpose. If in two years time you find yourself out of a job it’s a tough industry to get roles in without significant connections and Karen from recruiting in HR at the bank you’re applying too probably wont put you through to the hiring manager.
Do it. Do it. Do it. Life’s too short to go sit at an office for 90hrs a week when you could be at a meeting in Dubai selling AK47s to some guy in the DKR trying to stage a coup. If you won’t do it, PM me and I will.
Bro definitely just watched 'War Dogs', wonder what will happen when he discovers 'The Wolf of Wall Street'
Take the job and hire me eventually. My family’s business would have interesting synergies with this (also defense, on the target system side of things)
We should connect over DM. I’ll go off pvt if u see this.
This is so very cool plus more rewarding. The upside as you said, is HUGE. Personally, I'd the take arms dealing offer and you won't be slogging off for 70-80 hours a week, plus it sounds extremely interesting. It's like a mixture of consulting and IB, but far more worth it. Literally just JUMP at it. Also, if you have any doubts, since this is through a family connect, you can always ask for working for few months first and then thinking about it full time.
Also, if you choose the arms dealing offer and when you would be sitting with some Mafia in Geneva closing some multi billion dollar deal, you would get a ping on your phone from this guy called "Vxd" on WSO, that would be me asking for an internship.
NO , the business is unethical , you continue your IB stint and refer me to the big boss , we makin outta WW3 with this one
I think you should take it; I mean, if you think about it, you are going to be learning and negotiating deals that are higher stakes than you would in IB, because, let's face it, what has more of an impact in the world; a deal giving weapons to a country in war or a debt raise on a random HVAC company. If you wanted to go back into IB, I think it would be through an MBA (but I am not sure how arms dealing would look to an admissions office). Still, I think you would learn highly valuable negotiating skills which would probably translate into being a good banker. And to another point on this forum, someone made, do you really want to be in an office working long hours, or would you rather be in another country negotiating ammunition supplies to their military?
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