is it possible do be an investment banker and good dad

I intend on becoming an investment banker and was wondering if its possible to be a good father.

growing up i didnt have the most present father as he was a doctor working very long hours and i understand it is the same in IB. i want to be an investment banker and good dad but was wondering if you can be both.

12 Comments
 

I think this is an interesting discussion that isn’t talked about enough here.

I have some MDs who seem like good parents - they block 8-10 every night to put kids to bed and block time to drive kids to school in the morning, but even then you’re just working more than most people, and MDs also travel frequently. So you can certainly have some control over your schedule as a senior, but at the end of the day you work a ton so you’ll never be as present as someone working 9-5

 

I think if you set your priorities right, it can be possible. Work is hard and time-consuming, but you are mostly at home every night and morning with your family (depending on where/when you get out, ..).

Vacations can be had together, and most weekends also.

I think other time-consuming hobbies would be difficult, but having a family would certainly be more important.

 

What defines a good dad? My dad woke up every day at 4am and worked until 6pm while I was growing up. Then he would take me to my games and/or practice. Never missed a game, but my mom usually took me to practice most days.

 
lwinkydink

i want to be an investment banker and good dad but was wondering if you can be both.

Focus on becoming a banker first--not sure why fatherhood is a consideration whatsoever for a high schooler

 

its a consideration because i very much despise my father for not being around to often and when he is hes either sleeping or being a prick. and if being in IB means this then i dont want to get in

 

Right, but you become a banker and you decide that you don't have enough time then just quit--it's not like banks are making you sign 20 year contracts to work there, so I'm not sure why that weighs into your consideration now especially since kids are most likely 10+ years out at the least

 

My Father was an MD for many years. Didn't always see him around a lot when I was younger as he used to fly between offices constantly. However, he definitely made time when it came to my activities. Always took me to school and other things when he could though I definitely recall a number of times when he fell asleep at events just from getting back home at like 2-3am. 

 

Were the two of you still close?

Did you end up building a better relationship with him as time goes on?

 

We were still pretty close. But after he retired, it got much better. To this day, I still barely know what he was like tho as an MD. 

 

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