Automation Across Asset Classes — McKinsey Report

Junior undergrad, incoming S&T SA. I've been researching different desk opportunities and found an old (2014-2015) McKinsey report describing current and future automation across asset classes. Recap of report is here https://www.efinancialcareers.com/news/2015/10/ho…;

I'd be interested to hear how these takes have held up over the past 6 years, and if anyone can confirm/deny some of these claims. Some, like cash equities (in Dallas), make a lot of sense. 

I am really interested in rates and FX derivatives, though these graphics make them seem risky. Is this true? Where would exotic rates/FX derivatives and structured products fall on this curve? All insight/comments are appreciated. 

4 Comments
 

The futures space is highly digitalized, no doubt, and volume has been through the roof. What is your concern? Digitalization just means it's moved off the floor/pits and there's less voice messaging. Traders are still thriving as they have more DMA and less need to interact with FCM and brokers in general. There's still a huge marketplace for that sellside level all the same. Many CTAs and hedge funds push their orders to bank order desks to remove their execution risk.

 

From what I've seen, the general attitude on this site is that automation = bad, in the sense that automation causes reduced head counts, pay cuts, and lower job security for sales/traders on those desks. The example I see most often is cash equities — people are always commenting on how much the head count there has decreased since the early 2000s. I'm just repeating what I've read here, I cannot speak to any of this from personal experience. 

My concern is being phased out by tech, landing a role that becomes less involved/interesting/secure as technology improves over the years. That's why I said that the above report makes rates and FX derivatives seem "risky."

 

Illo facilis ea non reiciendis. Eum minus dolores quod beatae occaecati. Dolores dolores quae ut corporis ullam molestias aliquid eligendi. Repellat eos cupiditate et.

At doloremque sunt ut rerum cupiditate voluptas sed provident. Qui quis autem ducimus est. Vel quo repudiandae reprehenderit et odit quaerat.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
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...”