Quitting after 2 months for Youtube?
Trying to be as vague as possible to avoid getting identified.
Long story short, throughout college I have been a part of a Youtube channel that's recently ballooned in popularity. I have been offered by the team to return as the main persona of the channel. Even if the channel no longer grows, the current economics of the channel allows me to reap 400k - 500k per year. To say I am tempted is an understatement. However, there are a few things that I am considering right now.
1) Given that I will be the main persona of this channel and this channel features me making minorly problematic statements from time to time, I have a feeling any possibility of me being employed professionally in finance would be destroyed in the future as banks can easily come across clips with hundreds of thousands of views of me dropping F bombs (this is an example, but you get the gist)
2) 400k - 500k per year sounds pretty great to be making youtube videos, but it's in no way large enough for me to be financially free if this thing flops after a few years.
3) If I quit after just 2 months on the desk as an AN1, how will that be viewed professionally? But at the same time, if I don't quit now, this opportunity would pass me by.
Let me know what you guys think. My heart is saying yes but my brain is saying no.
Is this a serious question lmao
Make the damn videos bro, thats way more interesting than having analyst years on your resume. Worst case is you fail and you go do an MBA to get back to banking. Im sure most people would love to say a yootoob celery is on their deal team
Do you think he would even need to do an MBA to go back?
I was thinking in the scenario where he does this for 5+ years or whatever. Decides it doesnt workout. Do mba to enter as an associate instead of an analyst
“any possibility of me being employed professionally in finance would be destroyed in the future”
Very relatable in the current environment for those of us already in finance. Could always do this Youtube thing first then try IB for plan B.
One of my first companies was built off a channel with 1.1m+ subs. You should build a business off the channel and capitalize on the cheap/“free” traffic. Then your 400k turns into $2m a year. If you have over 2m subs I have a few friends who specialize in creating influencer led dtc brands I can put you in touch with. They front significant cash + business end.
why haven't we talked about a WSO monkey cologne or deodorant? ;-)
Eau de Monke
or
Essence de Investment Banking Analyst
Two "silly" questions:
1) what prohibits you from doing the channel while you're working? I assume you're not live streaming for a lengthy amount of time
2) why do you need to make problematic statements under your government name? That seems like a quick way to get super canceled in this environment
The MD / Partner economics are not guaranteed, so you shouldn't make the comparison on a "like" basis. You could also move to a lower cost of living city and live more responsibly.
For me and my tolerance, this is extremely risky and I'd be out. But that's not saying you shouldn't follow something that pays you and sounds interesting to you.
Do youtube. You can always go back to banking.
Yes dude do it.
Working for yourself will (potentially) take you places far beyond what you will achieve while working for someone else (i.e., a bank). If I were you, I'd take the leap and commit 100% into growing your platform into a sustainable business. As others have said, the corporate world or an MBA will always be an option.
No you should go work 90 hours a week for someone else to make 160k instead of working for yourself with friends for 400-500k+.
My biggest holdup would be dealing with health insurance, but even after those expenses, it sounds like you'll still be raking it in. However, I wouldn't jump into this if you don't think your channel has staying power. Since you only recently got popular, you may want to wait it out and see if that fades or if you can actually maintain it.
Also, if your bank found out and fired you, would you get severance or do they not have to pay that since you technically violated the employment terms?
Healh insurance is probably a $15-20k out of pocket cost even for the best plans. I don't think at $400-500k/yr this is really an issue.
If you’re not going to do it, give me your spot lmao.
I dunno maybe do IB for a year while still doing the channel. Talk about your life on Wall Street as Gen Z eats that shit up. Then quit the IB job saying how much it sucks in a "why I quit my $200k job on Wall Street" video. Have seen a few people do that and gain a ton more followers through it.
Hahaha
Gambles no one likes you
If you're confident in the channel and its future, go for it. Don't look back.
Also please DM me.
I would quit and do that even if the youtube pay was only like 100k.
better to make 100k on youtube with potential to grow, while having a blast
Keep doing both if you can (from a workload pov) and if it ever comes up deal with it then. If they find out, they probably ask you to resign or fire you which brings you back to square one.
you are trying to make a decision that doesnt really need to be made IMO
Why don't you DM Taylor Bell and ask her?
Well... her content isn't really problematic though. I'm sure if the opportunity was something like a youtube channel based on travel / exploration / philanthropic work he'd take it in a heartbeat as IB could always be pursued later.
Seems like the question isn't "YT @ 400k vs. IB @ $200k" but rather "Risk ruining my reputation @ 400k vs. IB @ 200k"
100% do it. I would recommend living somewhat frugally so that you can reinvest most of it into multiple income streams to help de-risk your future earnings. You want to have a safety net of income streams to save yourself from your channel dying or from getting de-platformed/canceled by saying something too out of pocket - which increases in likelihood every day as the world gets increasingly more sensitive.
good advice.
Do Youtube. If things fall apart you can go to a top business school. Youtube is a very unique work experience that might intrigue admissions
Go for it, your brain is wrong.
I understand you are concerned that a brief career as a YouTube celebrity will make you stand out should you ever wish to return to IB.
You are right, and that is a good thing.
Any half-decent analyst can construct a financial model or put together a pitch deck, in a client-facing industry the most important characteristic is personability and a successful career in social media will demonstrate to potential employers that you are incredibly good with people. I have quite a few friends who intentionally built a social media presence to propel them into a senior role, Nicholas Crown is an example of someone who recently did this on TikTok.
If anything, pursuing a career on YouTube will set you far above the rest and be of great benefit your career in IB, should you wish to return to it.
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