Saw Monty's thread on a HS senior contacting him about how to prepare a career in trading and was wondering how old everyone was when they realized they wanted to be a trader and in general got interested in the market.
For me it was around 16 when I first got into the markets and got my first internship in PWM. Realized I wanted to be a trader by time I graduated High School.
14-15
17 - we did a stock market project in my economics class
14 after hearing an offhand comment about how bankers all drive porches.
I didn't know I wanted to "become" a trader right away at this age, but when I was 12 I got sponsored by a teacher in 8th grade to enter CNBC's Stock Market Challenge for Students (which they no longer run) and ended up placing 14th. I remember going to Yahoo!, seeing what companies were reporting earnings the next day or 2, and buying them in hopes they outperformed (not much of a strategy, but I was 12 and it worked).
x
Interest by 13, career ambition by 21.
While sitting on my Dad's knee at his work when I was 9, early/mid 90's. Didn't know what the hell was going on but I could tell it was a good day and there seemed to be quite a bit of excitement in the office. I developed and expanded my interest in HS when I opened up an acct.
Senior year of college. Had gone through banking interviews and then an alum that I kept in touch with told me to come down and check out the options floor (AMEX) before I took an analyst job. I was pretty much hooked by that experience, especially when I realized I wouldn't have to shave or get dressed up everyday. I met the head trader, and he mentioned that the first year traders (typically, second year employees) were up (net to them) x00k on average, and that didn't hurt either.
http://morningcereal.wordpress.com/ Morning Cereal.
"Nicely done! On par with LSO,"- Duke University student "Hilarious..!!"- British man
That's just fucking sad. I think I still wanted to be a fireman when I was 9.
I really just kinda fell into trading in my late 20's, although I'd been a "stock jockey" (pejorative term at the time) earlier in my career. Turns out I had the perfect temperament for trading (anger management issues, borderline alcoholic, piss-poor personal relationships, etc...)
great picture for the post!
I hope it "dawns" on me sometime during my SA that my career objective is to be a Trader. I never wanted to be one actually. Whilst attending on campus presentations, trading just appealed to me more thank banking, so applied for a summer internship.
Anyhow, you guys are weird. 9? 13? 14? I was still hoping to become an astronaut or something around that time. Sheesh, I am sure you guys must be burn-outs or something by now.
As I said before, I didn't know til I was 21, but really, unless you had a legit interest in astronomy, I'd say it's a bit stranger that you still wanted to be an 'astronaut or something' while in high school.
That said...Princeton at 9, ya that's stretching it but whatever, to each his own.
I could see a college love by 9.
I have a cousin who met his wife at UT and has season tickets to their football game. His son has been to every home game since he was 5. He is 10 now and talks nothing more then how he wants to be a Longhorn like his mom and dad. His school is already paid too. They have a program where you can pay for future kids at todays rate.
Growing up with parents who are alum and a strong connection through going to football games their entire life makes it understandable; I know tons of people like that at my school. My guess is that wasn't the case for Princeton...could be wrong though...wouldn't be my first time.
in the womb
I was just making the point of someone having an idea of where they wanted to go to college at that age.
When I was 9 I wanted to be a marine like my dad. Worn green everywhere..lol
http://morningcereal.wordpress.com/ Morning Cereal.
"Nicely done! On par with LSO,"- Duke University student "Hilarious..!!"- British man
ouch sorry about your dad's investment bro
Now I know you're joking.
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Probably 12 or 13 in early 90's when my parents bought me KO shares for Christmas. Hooked and never looked back ...
Trading as a possibility at 19.
I did not see myself studying at Oxford when I was 10... You clearly lack the capacity to understand what a university is before you are, say, 14. Or else you really missed out on something called childhood.
I pity the guy who wanted to go to Princeton at 9. When I was 9 I wanted to play baseball. Parent pressure?
Two weeks after I was offered a FT position.
And I'd still rather be a baseball player.
I played baseball in college and STILL would like to be a baseball player..lol
about 2 months ago, thought I wanted to go into IBD like pretty much every newbie (im a first year at uni)and then realized that trading is the place for me and IBD is basically slavery with excel. Havent stop reading about trading ever since.
IBD is more of Asian thing now as the BB business model in the US is transforming into more of brokerage focused business. Hence, S&T is the growth area.
kind of off topic but Jay Buhner went to high school about 3 miles from my high school.
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