Leaving Finance
I wanted to share my story and vent a little. After two intense years in investment banking, I made the decision at 25 to quit, without any backup plan.
So, why did I take this leap?
After some serious reflection, I realized that my investment nest egg, which is around $1M, is enough for me to consider an early "retirement" of sorts—assuming I let the power of compounding do its thing and don’t touch it. Based on my calculations, even if I don’t add a single dime to it, in 20 years at an 8% growth rate, it will be $4.6M, or $6.9M in 25 years. I’d be 45 or 50 by then.
This realization made me understand that banking and the finance side aren’t what I want to do for the rest of my life. I aspire to be an owner-operator one day, so I figured the best way to achieve that is by working at one (I’m aware this means taking a massive pay cut, especially at the beginning). I no longer want a lavish lifestyle, a watch-chasing mindset, or to be part of NYC's rat race.
Sure, I’ll still need to work to cover my monthly expenses, but I’m aiming for more manageable hours while I kickstart some small real estate investments over the next year or two. Plus, I am looking to move to Texas or Florida where the cost of living is much lower. This might be a hot take, but I believe this could be a great buying opportunity right now...
Anyway, that’s my story. I just needed to get this off my chest and speak my mind freely. Feel free to say what you wish.
Thanks for listening.
Tough decision but in the long run, you never lose picking life and happiness over the rat race. Congratulations and all the best!
Where are you getting 8% tho, that’s the real story
Dear Intern - There is an index in the US called the “S&P500” (it’s the 500 biggest US companies). It has performed +10% per year on average over the last 50 years
Take that 8% down 2-3%. You’re going to have down years as well.
Can I ask you to please delete this silly comment?
So you have a million dollars and decided to quit a stressful job. What a quirky decision.
Lol if I had 1m like you at 25, I would do the exact same thing (I have to stay 4.5 more years in IB to reach £1m, I will then immediately switch to a chill job). Enjoy your life. Btw how did you make 1m at such a young age?
The 25 year old millionaire quit his job with no backup plan! Truly taking the road less traveled, bravo to this guy for being brave enough to leave the rat race. Thank you for sharing your story, may this be a lesson to all of us.
Fucking clown. You quit your job after getting 1 million and xp farm on this site. Get a life. You’ll never be a mfpe partner or tiger cub pm or have your kids go to Exeter with the next zuck
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