Different Path Intro

I have been on here for about a year but have not posted. Let me tell you my story.

I graduated last May from a decent Great Lakes region private school. About 3000 students. Definitely not a target for IB but big in accounting and small equity research companies. I double majored in finance and econ and was a college football player. I come from a decently connected background. Father went to West Point, Grandfather helped open Drake & Co. and was a vice president at another firm after that. I had a 3.12 GPA in undergrad. Lazy student. Decent test scores, 30 ACT, 98th percentile on major field test. Took the LSAT for fun once and scored a 160 with no studying.

I had an interview junior year with JP Morgan for a summer analyst and then one interview with a firm in California. I wasn't sure that I really wanted to go into IB though. I didnt get the JP one and I canceled the one in Cali. I liked finance but the hours scared me away. I decided to spend the next school year figuring it out. Interned in real estate finance. Did an internship with an HR consulting firm working in client cost analysis. Neither of them really intrigued me. I was lost. Unsure what I would do when graduation came.

I interviewed all over and in everything. More IB, corporate finance, sales. I had a few other job offers upon graduation and I choose one in insurance. Turns out, its a great position and a great industry. I work as an analyst in a small specialty insurance company, captives, niche programs. 50 employees, entrepreneurial atmosphere.It turned out to be a great fit.Yes, the money isn't great, 40+K starting out, but the cost of living in the midwest is cheap, the hours are easy (never more than 38/week). 4 weeks vacation plus you still get to do a lot of analysis work while not having the stress of IB.

I guess what I am trying to say is that insurance gets a bad name but its worth a shot if you don't want to work long hours. Yes, you sacrifice some pay but, I think you get some other great benefits. I think many of us in finance get this idea that its IB or bust and for some that's great. However, there are other options out there. It worked for me so far, maybe for some of you too.