Isn't this like the worst time to enter High Finance/IB?

A lot of people will say stock market always go up in the end. But right now, why are so many people still eager to go into IB/HF when liquidity keeps drying up in the market. So basically the stock market rout has no correlation with the future of the financial industry as a whole?

As I recall, a few weeks ago, the top senior partner of Apollo Management, literally one of the most successful private equity firms, exited after a history of strong performance. Why would he leave such a cushy job all of a sudden? 

Ps: I am just curious. Currently contemplating if I should go into being an actuary instead of going into quantitative finance. Theoretically, finance should be the least recession-proof industry. But no one seems to care I guess. Maybe this time is different?

3 Comments
 

Imo apart from if a terrible recession happens, this is the best time to enter. Recession predictions are just that, predictions. The fact that entry level analysts are going in at street comp of 100k+ base, is crazy. As far as compensation, after raises few roles can compete with IB and even if there is a recession, analysts won’t be the first impacted

 

Atque ut sed voluptas soluta aliquam deleniti maiores. Voluptatem omnis provident voluptas velit. Dolor et illum deleniti velit quis eum quis voluptates.

Ut qui eum quia consectetur. Est ipsa cupiditate illo et a et. Quia natus error libero ipsam fugit assumenda voluptas. Quam est consectetur ullam laudantium. Quas error mollitia eum commodi repellendus est.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”