Is Investment Banking No Longer a Prestigious Finance Job?
It seems to be the case that the high-performers at target schools no longer want to work in I-Banking. There was a time where I-Banking used to be the epitome of success for bright finance students, but now it seems more like the fallback for those that couldn't make it into PE, S&T, HF, AM or MBB.
The salaries at senior levels are no longer what they used to be, while those that go to work on the buy-side generally work half the hours and make the same, if not more, money than bankers while also working in a more impactful function. Meanwhile the poor schlups at Morgan Stanley are chained to their desks and when they do go out, being an investment banker no longer carries the same prestige in social functions that it used to, as chances are that you will be surrounded by buy-side bois that render you middle-class at best.
Why the fuck does it matter if its "prestigious"? It is a job that can pay 150k the first year out of college and 500k before you're 30. Who the fuck cares if your friend gets a hard on for where you work. Just do what makes ya happy, wether that be an IB slave or a ski bum or a music festival raver. No one gives a shit.
It's funny how people only say this when they're on the less prestige end of the jobs being compared.
Are you in High School by any chance? Freshman in College? I have never heard anyone in PE/HFs (the only comparable options you mentioned) compare IB with Big 4 Audit. In any case, focus more on what you’re interested in and less on what other people think.
What's the aim of this thread? Seems like you already landed a job in PE, and now you just want to argue with people that you're better than them. Kids at my target go to the buy side also but don't jerk themselves off about it