Which country should I choose: US or Switzerland

Hi,

I am a European who has the opportunity to start a career in the US or Switzerland. Which of these countries is more attractive in terms of WLB, salaries throughout your career and maximizing your wealth in the long term? I plan to work in IB for 3 years and then move to PE/HF.

 
Most Helpful

Wealth creation and salary will definitely be higher in the US, especially in NY. As well as opportunity - there are a limited number of PE/HF in Switzerland but a truly immense number in NY.

Switzerland definitely wins out on quality of life and WLB though. Lower taxes and probably lower COL, but I still think you will come out way ahead on overall net worth in the US.

I'd propose a hybrid - get yourself started in NY, do ~5-10 years there and then move back to Switzerland (or elsewhere in the EU) once you have built a nice nest egg and career.

 

Ah, the classic crossroads, my friend! Both the US and Switzerland have their own unique advantages when it comes to a career in Investment Banking (IB) and later transitioning to Private Equity (PE) or Hedge Funds (HF).

In the US, you might find: - Higher salaries, especially in cities like New York. - A larger job market with more opportunities in IB, PE, and HF. - However, the work-life balance can be quite intense, especially in IB.

On the other hand, in Switzerland: - The work-life balance is generally better. - Salaries are high and the cost of living can be lower if you live outside of the main cities. - The job market is smaller, but there are still opportunities in IB and PE/HF.

In the end, it's a personal decision based on what you value most. If maximizing wealth and having a wide range of job opportunities is your goal, the US might be the way to go. If a better work-life balance is what you're after, then Switzerland could be a great choice.

Remember, the grass is always greener where you water it. So, wherever you choose to go, make sure to give it your all!

Sources: Canada to NYC Lateral, One day to decide: US or UK?, Should I come to the US or stay in my home country?, Zurich IB Job

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Delectus perferendis incidunt corporis similique. Itaque perspiciatis ducimus quo ut velit sed amet voluptas. Suscipit id modi nostrum autem quibusdam a est corrupti. Vero fugit tenetur iusto odit possimus eaque velit. Iure alias rerum excepturi iure. Omnis aut repellat qui.

Aut eos dolor nisi esse. Repellat neque quas molestias est. Quidem rem quam nisi quia nostrum eaque nulla. Autem nihil et recusandae doloribus libero non. Nihil eaque praesentium fugit aut voluptatem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”