Would YOU help a whale client launder drug monies if your manager asked you to "handle it"?

Looking back on the HSBC, Goldman Sachs, AIG, and Well's Fargo money-laundering scandals, its obvious nobody goes to jail on Wall Street any more (aside from Madoff who ripped off the wrong people), what would YOU do if your manager asked you handle a whale client from Mexico with $2 million of cash he wanted to convert to some shares in a NASDAQ small cap? Do you see this as a risk or opportunity to move up the corporate ladder?

30 Comments
 

$2 million of cash is considered "whale" client money? What is he laundering? Money from an ISIS bake sale?

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 
Best Response

I'm hoping this is hypothetical, but no. You go to fucking jail, real jail, for that type of shit. And getting involved with Mexican cartels? Brilliant idea. Even better do it without knowing it for a terrorist org. For $2MM (that you don't see) so you could rise up to the ranks of middle management in trade processing so that you could someday make a couple hundred grand per year? And this stuff is usually so boring: it's not like Jason Bourne or Mission Impossible, it's more like Office Space, but the FBI walks in and takes some poor schmuck away.

If you're going to go illegal, then do it for real. Don't work some middle office job at HSBC, get arrested for nothing and be Bubba's bitch in cell block D. Go work for the cartel. Be a baller and make tens or hundreds of millions laundering money and running drugs. If you're gonna be a bear, be a grizzly.

 

You make so much sense sometimes, it's scary.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

In these conjugal visits, you can have sex with women? Okay, I'll do it.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

This has to be one of the dumbest fucking questions I have read. You really think your boss is going to rock up and ask you to launder some dick head's pocket money? Are you that thick to think that you would be able to pull some shit like this in a bank? Really? You don't think there is any type of KYC that goes on? You think that anybody can fucking rock up in a bank and ask to launder money? "big whale" client my ass. Go back to high school or wherever you come from.

"looking back at the money laundering scandal" fuck you - and go learn about them before asking such stupid shit. When money is laundered it's a lot more complicated then dip shit harry coming to you with a suitcase full of cash.

 

Having said that, do you think BO to FO moves in prison are frequent? I'm sure there's quite a bit of switching back and forth, with some FO to BO as well. Sounds like a great place if you're looking for that type of internal mobility.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

Post new topic: What is the most preftigious white collar prison?

Those who can, do. Those who can't, post threads about how to do it on WSO.
 

Quisquam adipisci et alias officiis quidem. Sed possimus unde vitae aut. Error porro ut nemo sint. Similique consequatur corporis reiciendis ut est.

Autem ad placeat suscipit suscipit sunt et voluptatem. Ut officia voluptatem maxime aut provident est libero. Aperiam quisquam sequi porro unde.

Doloribus suscipit molestias perspiciatis voluptatibus dolorem explicabo. Quaerat velit aut laudantium rerum adipisci. Totam optio pariatur repudiandae consequatur delectus. Et qui sunt quia aut.

Rem et aspernatur voluptates accusamus praesentium culpa. Voluptates ut consequatur quas natus odio quis eveniet. Repellendus nihil explicabo qui adipisci.

Follow the shit your fellow monkeys say @shitWSOsays Life is hard, it's even harder when you're stupid - John Wayne

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $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...”