Quitting Traditional Finance

Spent the past 7 years in IB and I'm quitting to move into operational advisory. I have no interest in becoming an MD at a bank and having zero life outside of work. I also feel like my skillset is diminishing by the day and all I really know how to do is model / ppt / send fancy emails

Anyways, don't know what I don't know about taking the operational route but any considerations? I would love to operate a business (CEO/CFO) and have a meaningful stake in the business... probably SMID/Mid Cap. Can anyone cite people who have done this successfully?

5,840 WSO Academy Investment Banking Session Reviews: 4.82/5

Class of '27 Dec 2025 Cohort

5.00/5

Investment Banking Other

“Working with Adam was an absolute pleasure. I was paired with him to prepare for a Renewable Energy Project Finance modelling test. He admitted that he was quite rusty in the space and did not know if he could provide significant value. However, this turned into the best WSO Mentor Session I've had by far. Adam was extremely helpful, kind and uplifting. He was able to find a previous, real model he had worked on, and we went through it together. It was incredibly helpful to have seen a real Project Finance model. He dove through it line-by-line - inputs, assumptions, debt financing, etc. We also started the call from a very high-level, discussing Revenues, Sources & Uses of Cash and Debt Financing in Project Finance. Overall, the call felt more like a conversation with an incredibly-helpful peer who was cheering me on. He also provided actionable takeaways following the call, and sent over additional resources to help me prepare. I will absolutely be sure to work with Adam again in the future!”

Class of '28 Sep 2026 Cohort

5.00/5

Investment Banking Mock Interview

“The mock interview was extremely useful and gave me a much clearer understanding of the areas I need to improve before upcoming interviews. I particularly appreciated how specific and constructive the feedback was, both on the technical questions and on the way I structured my behavioral answers. The interviewer created a realistic and challenging environment, which made the session especially valuable. I also found the comments on how to make my answers more concise, structured and convincing very helpful. Overall, it was a great opportunity to identify weaknesses, gain confidence, and understand how to approach future interviews more effectively.”

See All 10,897 WSO Academy Reviews

1 Comments

WSO Monkey Bot

O

4y

Perferendis culpa ratione ut et quisquam impedit. Sit doloremque quis culpa alias qui voluptatem. Officia numquam voluptas aperiam blanditiis molestiae quas totam. Ut a in error velit. Id earum iste voluptatem quam. Animi quia pariatur voluptatum iste qui voluptates.

Tempora libero atque quo similique distinctio neque delectus id. Inventore est quos eum odit.

+87	Drunk VP. How to manage?	28	21h
+57	Who is the final boss in Houston Energy? (GS, JEFF or EVR)	10	3h
+54	[2026 - October] Unbiased Prestige Rankings	22	13m
+44	Lazard US Views 2026/2027	16	19h
+40	McK vs A&M Offer Decision	22	57m
+39	Moelis PCA vs Lower tier BB Coverage	24	5h
+37	Tomorrow Will Be Better	5	1d
+36	Why Do We Turn Comments?	5	1h
+22	UBS’s Investment Bank Is Building an AI Slop Factory	2	1d
+21	How early is to early?	9	2d

1	redever	99.2
2	Secyh62	99.0
3	BankonBanking	99.0
4	kanon	99.0
5	DrApeman	98.9
6	dosk17	98.9
7	GameTheory	98.9
8	CompBanker	98.9
9	Betsy Massar	98.9
10	numi	98.8

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Quitting Traditional Finance

Score Breakdown

Feedback

Score Breakdown

Feedback

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Quitting Traditional Finance

See All Comments - 100% Free

Trending Content - Investment Banking Forum