Which finance career offers the best balance of compensation, stimulation, and WLB?

If total compensation, stimulating and interest work/good learning, and WLB are all important, which career in finance would offer the best blend? Prestige is not a factor.

IB has the compensation and learning opportunities, but no WLB. Hearing the same for HF, PE, and private credit.

PWM and CB seem to be average across the board in all 3 areas.

Perhaps S&T? Although its learning may be very narrow

Perhaps ER or public credit?

Obviously, there isn't really a career that offers all 3, but in your opinion, which career offers the best blend/balance of these 3 factors?

5 Comments
 

Have you had firsthand experience in either? Or have you heard from friends in those industries?

 
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Was corp fin in a T2 management consultancy and we had to work 44hrs per week for pretty good pay. Was in the defense industry so mapping out budgets and forecasts were easy. It was too easy. I was bored. But, I wish I stayed in the role as if you make partner it is high six figure to seven figure pay to manage in a F500 company. I could have just stayed there and retired, but I left because I thought I was worth billions, not millions. Reality hit me in the face and I did not in fact make billions on my own venture, but learned some very valuable lessons. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

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