Highest Paying Finance jobs with best long-term WLB
Highest Paying Finance jobs with best long-term WLB
ER largely has good hours to comp ratio, but I bet LO AM is slightly higher. I'm tempted to say certain HF's, but those seats are so damn competitive that it's almost impossible to land there.
Any thoughts for prospective monkeys who want to make $$$ but also want to have healthy long-term relationships & eventually a family?
Wealth Management has the potential for the best trade off but there’s heavy volatility around the comp part. Basically eat what you kill. This would be the best route if you’re a people person and don’t mind being more of a salesperson than an analytical professional.
ER and LO AM are arguably similar and offer more stability in comp for more hours than Wealth Management. This is the best route if you’re analytical and have a passion for investing.
HFs are much riskier than the roles above and has much higher turnover (like IB/PE). You will likely work more hours in these roles too (assuming you’re non quant, fundamental L/S).
Overall, I’d say it comes down to your innate skills and passions. If you’re good at selling on a personal level, do WM and don’t look back. If you like researching companies and making investment decisions, do ER/AM and don’t look back. All roles are extremely competitive to get the high comp for balance so you really need to focus on what you’re good at to have a chance to get there
ER is still 70 hours a week on average, outside of earnings. It's not chill. And the comp will go down. I would not recommend this career path and after 5 years I regret entering it.
It's probably way more interesting than IB though.
Why are the hours so long on average? I get why ER gets mad busy during earnings season, but to clock in 70 hours weekly seems really high
Be an LP. You get paid nicely and the hours are probably the best in finance.
Yes - the job can be incredibly slow and boring though. Not a bad tradeoff.
There is no free lunch
I’d recommend equity research (though I am admittedly biased, as I am in ER myself).
The way I’d describe it is moderately intense WLB for moderately high comp. It’s not a “chill” job, but it’s reasonable enough that it is sustainable long-term, healthy, and amenable to having a family/a life outside of work. Another commenter suggested 70 hours/week — that sounds about right.
It is also worth mentioning that ER is commonly described among the most cerebral/intellectually engaging roles in “traditional finance” — there’s a chance you’ll affirmatively enjoy your job — and exit opportunities to HF or AM are pretty good. Seven figure exits may be in your future if you want it enough, and you won’t have to slave through two years of 100+ hour weeks to get there.
How does it reach 70 hours on average? I can understand why it gets busy during earnings periods but why does it get so busy during normal weeks
Would say LO AM but expect to be clued up on the market at all times so hours aren’t always as great as quoted on here
^ agreed. I joined LO AM expecting better hours but ended up working same hours as banking. Considering hopping to HF given the pay differential and similar WLB.
What type of fund did you join? Are hours easier at equity vs credit funds?
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