Stifel Canada Paying $0 for Bonuses This Year

Stifel Canada is not paying a dime in bonuses this year. All “bonuses” will be paid as a forgivable loan, only forgivable if you stay with the firm until December 31, 2023. If you leave before or if they fire you for anything you have to pay back the whole loan with interest. This applies to everyone from An1s to MDs. Moral is insanely low right now. Like this will keep anyone from jumping ship.

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2yrsNdip

If they fire you for anything you have to pay back the whole loan with interest.

This does not seem legal in the US. It's not like it's in your contracts like a signing bonus clawback would be.

Leaving, sure. Firing, no way

EDIT: Just realized this was Canada, not sure if these policies apply to US side. But I really wonder if Canadian laws would allow this clawback if you're terminated, seems far fetched  

Array

If it's structured as loan, they can put whatever they want in the repayment terms, including full, accelerated payback with accrued interest for termination of employment for any reason, voluntary or involuntary. This applies to the U.S. too. Can't comment on the tax implications however. 

You know, it feels like every day I read a new story similar to this - banks creating pay structures at the junior (even Analyst) level which involves some kind of clawback, restricted payment, etc. (including some which have a requirement to pay back a gross amount despite the employee being paid a net amount).

Not a good sign for things to come. Stay strong my monkeys.

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Not sure what to say other than I feel awful for anyone at Stifel CAN right now. To work so hard all year long in anticipation of being rewarded for that hard work is brutal. No one deserves that. It is well known that IBD is only worth the squeeze when you incorporate your bonus into your TC, as otherwise the hourly rate is painfully low. To all the folks who busted their ass all year, Im sorry. Working in banking is terribly taxing. Its not just the hours, the stress, the short deadlines, the inability to exercise due to long hours, the sacrifices you make to cancel on friends and family, but it is all of this combined. That is a lot for anyone, especially folks early in their career to sacrifice. But many do it all in hopes of being in a strong financial position. While this goal is still achievable, a year like this hurts any long-term investing the folks at Stifel were hoping to make. Especially given the notion that many bankers invest the lions share of their bonus with the aim of generating that compound interest that goes such a long way. 

I feel the urge to call out the importance of focusing on what you can control when looking at future contracts. The last few years have been a wake up call that bonuses and SBC is not guaranteed (or may be meaningfully lower than expected). I dont say this in a condescending way, I feel that many of us will suffer in some capacity in the years to come. 

If it makes you feel better, that policy is one where Stifel's PCA team in the U.S. has had for years. All "bonuses" are debt instruments that need to be paid back with interest if you leave within a certain time frame. So that's not a one off thing you're encountering - it's happening across the entire business for the long term.

stickychicken

If it makes you feel better, that policy is one where Stifel's PCA team in the U.S. has had for years. All "bonuses" are debt instruments that need to be paid back with interest if you leave within a certain time frame. So that's not a one off thing you're encountering - it's happening across the entire business for the long term.

Wow, didn't realize this. What a bunch of scumbags. 

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