Please Help: Student debt default and compromise with creditor

Hi guys,

Long time lurker here. I am in a major dilemma and I hope you can give me advice (especially if someone here is familiar with how compliance and HR do things in IB). I have just received an offer to work for a prestigious investment bank in a major city in the U.S.. However, there is one issue: A few years ago, I did not pay my student debt for many months (years) and ultimately close the account by a write-off, or a compromise with the creditor, where the creditor agreed to a lesser amount then original debt amount. Now, I know this has to be disclosed on the u4. However, my question is: Will I lose my job? I don't have any other criminal history, my credit score is fine now, but I have to report this and I am worried I will lose my job because it was a pretty substantial amount of debt.

Please help.

10 Comments
 

Thanks Greg. But my concern is that it has to be written on the u4, which then goes on brokercheck, which firms don't like.

 
Best Response

here's a thought: stop worrying about it, the past is the past.

yes, you will have to disclose it. no, you should not lie about it. yes, all else equal, firms would prefer a clean u4. however, you cannot do anything about it. take a chill pill, and assuming they haven't asked you to disclose anything like this (may happen during pre employment questionnaire), just disclose to HR before you submit anything.

e.g. - I had a minor charge from college that I was going to have to disclose on my background check. before submitting, I called my hiring manager, told them what happened, kind of like "hey, just a heads up, I'm going to have to disclose this. here's the situation, let me know if you have any other questions." they were fine, I had to get some more information from my lawyer & the court, but no big deal.

dishonesty is the key here, you need to be honest. I have no idea if they'd hold it against you, but what they definitely won't accept is finding out about it from the background check. disclose it to your hiring person before you're about to submit that stuff, and then say a little prayer.

either they'll rescind, or they won't. but I believe the above gives you the best chance to keep the job.

 

Disclose it and point out that you have a settlement on your credit report. People settle debts all of the time (I used to work collections - horrible job). It is substantially better to have a settlement rather than not paying on your credit report. I doubt you are the first person to have a negative mark for student loans on your credit history, particularly in the last 8 years.

Only two sources I trust, Glenn Beck and singing woodland creatures.
 

Thank you. The interesting thing is that it isn't even in my credit report for some reason. Maybe due to the age of the original file or maybe it didn't get tagged on. However, I do have to disclose it on my u4 and I am deeply concerned. I am even thinking about letting the job go and searching for another job. The reason is, why would a bank or a client want an advisor who can't handle his/her own money? I clearly fucked up. I am so ashamed of it that I have been considering dropping the job offer.

 

If you want the job just disclose it. You will be fine. If you don't you will never know. Worse comes to worst you get a rescind and have to start from square one. Personally, I would rather spare the bullshit of applying and interviewing and start getting paid.

Only two sources I trust, Glenn Beck and singing woodland creatures.
 

Neque et nemo nobis qui odio perspiciatis. Debitis sed et qui. Porro et quisquam laborum suscipit dignissimos esse. Quisquam eum a laboriosam qui veritatis non. Minus eum perspiciatis rerum vel quo saepe omnis. Reiciendis et quos quam doloribus sapiente adipisci.

Sed cumque mollitia aspernatur cum commodi et. Rerum molestiae error asperiores rerum similique velit ea. Et aliquam tempora ipsa eveniet voluptatem ab qui. Ad nam distinctio quasi iure totam aut quisquam.

Libero voluptatem consequuntur et consequatur et. Commodi illum voluptas veritatis reiciendis. Voluptas fugit dolores repellat. Ipsum iure libero nihil et quis quisquam consequatur.

Excepturi tenetur ut quidem labore velit. Qui suscipit repellat excepturi. Pariatur sint eum laborum. Nihil et illo est autem.

...

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 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

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • 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

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...”