Thoughts on returning to a 9-5 role after being out on your own

While it doesn't seem to be super common, I have come across a fair amount of investment professionals in the LA market who at one point or the other have gone out on their own, and then subsequently returned back to working for firm in-house. Sometimes planned, other times due to a layoff that prompted them to start doing their own thing. In some cases, if you use LinkedIn as a guide, it seems some of these folks have maintained their formal side hustles while continuing to work in-house for a company.

I am in this boat, and am in the early stages of testing the waters to return to an in house investment role.

Curious as to anyone here who has done this, and whether the firms you interviewed with questioned or had concerns with why you left a 9-5 to do your own thing, only to return to wanting a 9-5.

1 Comments
 

Cupiditate perspiciatis quam voluptas. Deleniti eum omnis ea dolor. Unde esse minima enim consectetur voluptas. Autem adipisci nam laboriosam eum fuga.

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 (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (74) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”