What is your actual net worth at age 25 and 30 if you stay in IB?

I'm not asking about salary or like total career earnings– obviously, living in big cities is expensive with rent, taxes, etc. What is like a normal / expected net worth factoring in post tax savings, investments, etc. by your mid 20s to early 30s if you stay in an investment banking role? Curious to hear ranges. I feel like I make a decent amount of money but struggle to save and build real wealth.

51 Comments
 

Do you actually think people should save as much as possible?

I always had the impression, that it would make sense to save a bit less and invest in the future, by spending money on everything that makes your early years in banking more bearable and "healthy".

 

Angus Macgyver

With good credit you can get private student loans at sub 5% rates. Or at least you used to be able to, now I imagine that's a little bit higher.

Either way, it can be a pretty nice source of cheap leverage.

You definitely cannot get private student loans for sub-5%, especially if you don’t have your parents to co-sign. Four years ago I took out a private loan at 8.99%, and that was with a co-sign from my parents (who albeit have shitty credit). Government loans were at high 3s and low 4s my first year, but now they’re almost 7% for new borrowers. My little sister had to take out private loans this year, and they were at over 14%. Even with reporting new income (IB street) and choosing the most aggressive amortization schedule, I can only refinance at ~6.5%.

 
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I'll add my situation. Live in T2 city, live with GF and cover all dinners/most of trips/buy her some stuff, etc., my portion of rent is just under 3K, pay for parking ($450/month) but no car payment. Fortunate enough to graduate with no loans.

Likely spend more than the average but nothing crazy. Most expensive purchase has been a couch, so no 10K watch or anything.

26 now, just started my second full year as associate (currently at 200K salary level) and NW is a little north of 360K (including 401K). On pace for 1M by 30/31 based on my estimates (assuming I don't purchase a condo)

 

As2 in TX, 28 now and 6 years out of undergrad all spent in banking. Current net worth is ~$630K. Would likely have much more saved if I invested during the run-up over the last few years, but kept most of my individual brokerage (non 401K funds) in a money market waiting for a recession that never happened.

Very good standard of living, my portion of rent is $2.5K. I don't budget for vacations, going out, big purchases, etc.

 

Waiting for a recession that never happened is so real. I’ve kept my An1 bonus in my hysa since august and mannnnn the appreciation just since then..

 

Had minimal student loans but had to support family, haven't increased my spending much though and obviously huge bull market over the past decade or so. Keep in mind I am in my 13th year out of college: at 25 - 100k, 30 -~1MM, 35 - ~4.5MM (not counting any equity options). Hoping to hit 10MM by 40 if equity options hit and with compound interest, but we will see. Comp ramps up post-analyst years, as does savings, especially if you avoid huge lifestyle creep. Also, I will note that I am unmarried, have no kids, and am splitting rent with my partner, who is also in a high-paying job (so there won't be a significant increase in rent despite moving to a nice one-bedroom apartment).

 

Did IB for 12 years and 1 year of Corp Dev so far, NW is all IB salary and investments basically, since I am not counting my initial equity grant option. Will say Corp Dev equity is pretty high if at acquistive PE-backed shops since it's in the best interest of everyone involved to have comp be more equity-based, and since more risk is taken, more comp is given, if that makes sense. 

Edit: revisiting this to say: I think 4.5MM in corp dev is theoretically possible given equity options, assuming you're last role from 30-35 was a director role and you exited investments at a high IRR and/or had a management rollover, but would only be possible with ITM equity options factored in. Tbh, NW figures are going to be very different based on luck, parents' support, and actual spending level. Know PE/IB guys with way less NW than me and others that are 1.5-2.0x mine.

 

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