Most Risky Finance Career Path with Highest Upside?

Have really realized over the past few years I want to limit my risk aversion and just pursue the highest upside path to be worth mid 8- even maybe 9 figures and I would love to hear from professionals on here as to what finance path would be best for that. PE seems like the best risk adjusted path (maybe hitting 9 fig nw if you stayed somewhere like Thoma on the rise up) and HF seems most risky but then again carry math at a mega fund seems to outdo HF earnings even at a multi manager with p&l linkage. Could totally be wrong there though.Is the most comp upside/risk in VC or Growth? Not sure how old you have to be to raise a VC fund or HF but PE funds really only get raised by old industry vets it seems. Does it even matter between industry? Thanks for any thoughts 

18 Comments
 

Out of all of these, which one do you think would be the quickest industry to do so in?

 
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This is not an important question and should have no bearing over picking a career path. "I want to limit my risk aversion and just pursue the highest upside path to be worth mid 8- even maybe 9 figures" - this is bad thinking. 99% chance you never reach either of those numbers regardless of which route you take, and you will certainly never have those kinds of outcomes unless you are bearing a LOT of risk. These industries are all different with their own challenges and working styles, figure out what suits you and go from there. 

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 

I agree that the mentality has its flaws yet I’ll kick myself for not trying to at least see and pursue the paths that could get me there, if you have an opinion I’d really appreciate your insight 

 

And when you are older and more experienced you will kick yourself for even attempting this thought exercise because you'll be wise enough to realize it does and adds nothing meaningful to any of your decisions.

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

How do they though, upside outcome of MF PE is making 100ms, what does top mm hf outcome loook like then?

 

well if you’re comparing the top partners at top firms, ken and izzy pulled in $2.5bn last year. HF right tail outcomes are definitely larger at all levels: you’ll never see a 27yo make seven figures in PE (prob won’t see any seven figure paydays until you’re 35+ in PE) but that’s easily possible for the top 5% performers in MMHFs. of course, looking at distribution of all outcomes, MFPE is probably slightly higher median and lower stdev

 

Become a degen gambler and launch a VC Fund

Strike a big investment at the likes of -> facebook, google, whatsApp, snap, ebay, etc...

Compound your money at a rate of >300% per annum and become a billionaire 

Imagine putting 25k into Twitter and having it be worth $5 Billion years later

Look at Chris Sacca's lifestory for inspiration 

Forget about the fact that the average VC fund returns 1x. You're here to win

 

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