Go for Brand-Name?

A friend of mine is choosing between two offers: a brand-name insurance company and a high frequency trading firm. She wants to do trading in the future. I suggested her to go for the HFT firm since it's trading, and the job should be more interesting. She's concerned that because it's really a no-name firm, it might not appear to be as good as the insurance company (where she will do capital management).

I asked a couple of my friends and nearly all of them said go for the HFT firm because you definitely learn more on that job.

I would love to hear your opinion on this.

14 Comments
 
Best Response
BernankeyDont go for the insurance company...i've had the unfortunate pleasure of working at a reinsurance company for two years..

You need to keep in mind that there are really only two "well-known" HFT firms: Renaissance and Getco. In my opinion, the more obscure the HFT firm the better, given that they have a good AUM.

I would add Citadel in there too. But ya, this HFT firm she has got is very very obscure and rather secretive (they don't even say they're a finance firm). Not sure if that's a good thing.

 
BernankeyDont go for the insurance company...i've had the unfortunate pleasure of working at a reinsurance company for two years..

You need to keep in mind that there are really only two "well-known" HFT firms: Renaissance and Getco. In my opinion, the more obscure the HFT firm the better, given that they have a good AUM.

What do you define as a good AUM?
 
jesus of nazareth
BernankeyDont go for the insurance company...i've had the unfortunate pleasure of working at a reinsurance company for two years..

You need to keep in mind that there are really only two "well-known" HFT firms: Renaissance and Getco. In my opinion, the more obscure the HFT firm the better, given that they have a good AUM.

What do you define as a good AUM?

It really depends on their strategy...if this was just a general HF then id say at least 500m

 
dabanoboHFT, no contest. If you're in the business, there are dozens of well-known firms.

Also, she will learn nothing at an insurance company.

This.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

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