Recent College Grad - Advice on Investing/Saving

Hi! I am a recent college grad and am wondering if anyone has any hindsight advice on determing where to draw the line between investing and saving. I'll be starting a job that pays pretty in-line with the IB industry and renting in a market where I can expect around $1,200-$1,400 for at least the first two years. I know obviously this varies for everyone significantly, but I am wondering if anyone has advice looking back on what they did right, wrong, etc. I'm definitely hoping to max my 401k, but assuming I can keep my expenses down I am wondering what is reasonable to invest versus save. Hard to say what long-term goals are, definitely buy a place in the medium to long term future and hopefully retire by 60. I appreciate any advice!

4 Comments
 

Honestly, just graduated college myself so I'm not necessarily the best person to give advice but assuming you have student debt, I would invest 40% of my discretionary income after food, rent, and clothing into etfs or mutual funds and spend 60% paying it off. The other aspect you need to worry about is job security. If there is a chance that you could get laid off or switch jobs in the next few years, I would save 10% of my paycheck every month. For renting, honestly just find a place that's decent and stay there. Again, I don't know your circumstances but with WFH over the next year and possibly over the next several years you are going to want to enjoy the place you spend 95% of your time at.

 

Cumque quaerat sed asperiores libero. Autem mollitia ut eum aliquam. Id tenetur enim cumque consequatur at quod nostrum nemo. Est vitae laboriosam omnis. Repudiandae reiciendis aspernatur sunt aut quae vitae sint. Deleniti reiciendis libero placeat possimus iusto suscipit dolore.

Excepturi eos nostrum nulla quaerat. Aspernatur minus omnis quia cupiditate vitae officia architecto. Corrupti et et fuga voluptates nisi. Cumque at omnis laborum.

Reiciendis quidem qui quia voluptatibus dolorum nostrum nihil. Reprehenderit quasi eligendi consectetur sint assumenda. In impedit animi accusantium et autem praesentium et. Tenetur occaecati provident cum soluta eos. Odio quia debitis rerum mollitia et culpa numquam. Hic temporibus officia perferendis accusamus dolorem doloremque.

Deserunt ipsum ipsam molestias et eum. Magni sint perspiciatis inventore provident saepe voluptatum est.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $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

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...”