Is high finance one of the fields where the most people don't achieve their dreams?

Only top 1% (or so) of graduates manage to get into IBD, top xx % of those IB analysts manage to get into a reputable PE, top xx% of those PE associates manage to get into M7, top xx% of those M7 grads manage to make VP at a good PE or other company, top xx% of those VPs manage to make MD, top xx% of those MDs manage to make CEO, top xx% of those CEOs manage to create a lasting legacy who is respected by society.

Tryna figure what other fields with such an unrealistic success rate. It's almost like dreaming to be a celebrity

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

No, I wouldn’t characterize this as accurate. First of all, you need to recognize that your hierarchy of people is all wrong. Nobody who knows that many people in business would say that your run-of-the-mill MF PE associate who gets promoted and becomes partner is the very richest person that they know. That title generally belongs to heirs of great fortunes, tech startup founders, or founders of middle-market businesses, to say nothing of the billionaires who outstrip these people. As an investment banker, I know dozens of people in one sub-sector of real estate who would be wealthier than most MF PE partners.

The truth is that the probability of becoming this wildly wealthy person is not dependent on jumping through that many hoops. You’re kind of turning this into a Drake equation / Fermi paradox kind of deal on why nobody’s rich. That’s a warped way of viewing this.

The key to being rich is owning equity in high-yielding, income-producing assets over decades of time with modest leverage that can withstand multiple operating and economic cycles. That can be done in so many different ways that it isn’t worth making a big equation as you have, especially considering that the people who follow the track you endorse will almost never be the very wealthiest of people. The entrepreneurs and real estate investors probably will be.

 

Amet ut cum quisquam animi omnis illum. Harum beatae maiores facere odio est ea. Eum ipsum distinctio vel et voluptas est qui.

Quasi illo non dolor dolor. Eos dolores id et enim. Reprehenderit vel expedita nulla accusantium inventore dolorem assumenda. Eius aliquam esse dolorem rem incidunt.

Ab dolore praesentium quaerat unde ad. Et est quo rerum aut est.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”