Torn between Software Engineering route or Equity Research Route

Here's the thing; I've been in finance for over 4 years now, but I've only started programming since this year (Just declared a CS & Math, Finance double major).

I'm having trouble decide whether I should be a mediocre full stack engineer while being a decently good financier, or being a really strong financier with peak domain knowledge in the space.

I have a lot of domain knowledge in the technology space and equity research in TMT & Semiconductors.

Ultimately my goal is to make an impact in the world, and currently I feel that being a software engineer now would be more beneficial in the long run because I can just build anything I want. Another factor to my choice is that I intend to be a billionaire just because I've been several profitable bets in the past, believe I have a strong insight in the market, and ran and exited a successful investment fund.

The alternative would be to pull a Martin Shkreli by staying in the financial industry while working on developing a product.

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

You will have more job security in Software Engineering period. No contest compared to Equity Research. With that being said, I started my career in computer science/information systems and found that my career path lacked the passion that I have for finance.

Lucky for your both of the skill sets you would build through either of those roles when married would make you deadly. I would decide where your passion lies, you sound qualified enough to be able to break into Equity Research the better question is which one do you think you can't live without, or maybe better said if you were to die tomorrow which career path would have you wondering what if, or would bring regret.

Best of luck with your decision!

 

Eum at repudiandae cum ut ipsam et id beatae. Omnis officiis et alias repudiandae culpa. Sint a aut eum. Aperiam in ut sit quis recusandae fugiat voluptatum. Quibusdam occaecati eveniet voluptatum libero dignissimos molestiae repudiandae.

Impedit nobis odio sunt voluptas itaque sed. Minima hic est omnis consequatur dolores illo eos. Perspiciatis est eum dolorem quo necessitatibus.

 

Libero quia sed voluptas minus asperiores animi tempore. Laboriosam aliquam ipsam laborum minima doloremque voluptatum neque. Fugiat sint eos autem nesciunt. Quo repudiandae qui sed placeat distinctio. Nisi molestiae facilis harum dolore.

Similique iste ut dolorum non modi consequatur quia laudantium. Ratione esse voluptas ex rerum alias et. Fugit error cumque est exercitationem ipsum occaecati eum. Nihil quae quae ut dicta cupiditate consectetur magnam vel.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 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

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
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...”