Can you make $10m+ trading at a BB?

Im soon to be a college student. I know making that type of money would be incredibly rare, but I am trying to learn more about the type of potential that there is in trading and how many traders can get that large of compensation. Would appreciate any answers.

15 Comments
 

This question is incredibly stupid, especially coming from a high schooler.

If we said no, absolutely not, then what? You're going to not go into trading? Worry about getting into the best college you can and performing at the top of your class.

 

You both don't have to be this harsh with the guy. He only asked for the probability of obtaining that.

So... getting back to the case. Yes, it's extremely rare to get that as you've pointed out. However, trading is like any other profession, or at least kind of. If you know how to nail it, you are smart in your choices and have all the best luck in the universe (meaning being at the right place in the right moment) then probably yes you can, but for the average mortal that's utopia.

If you want to get my advice, work your ass off in highschool, get in the best uni you can... loop. At the end of the day what you sell is your image, knowledge and personality. The mix of that can get you far away or nowhere.

 
Parker11ston

Im soon to be a college student. I know making that type of money would be incredibly rare, but I am trying to learn more about the type of potential that there is in trading and how many traders can get that large of compensation. Would appreciate any answers.

At a BB, the short answer is not really. You're on a discretionary payout, and it is very difficult to get very big numbers like this, no matter how much value you're adding.

At a HF, the answer is yes. It is not uncommon for traders/PMs to be on a set payout, say 15% of PNL. To make $10m+, one then needs to put up ~$67m+ in PNL. It's rare but possible.

 
Best Response
really

Yes. Check this list for proof. It was pretty similar at most BBs. http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2012/04/30/the-multimillionaire-men-of-lehman/

To be fair, most of these guys were running large trading teams, not really actually trading themselves. One guy on this list is a stock broker. I don't think you pick out that guy and say that's a likely event if you become a stock broker. These were all very senior people at the firm, not just random traders who only traded. The few guys in investment management were more of the exception than anywhere else in the firm, but they're not traders. Not to mention, that is basically ancient history at this point.
 

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