How Stressful and Boring is S&T?

I'm thinking about breaking into finance but first discovering what role/s would suit me best.  I recently had to leave my job working the night shift as the stress was unbearable and my health was suffering from it.  I had and still have hopes of one day giving a financial role a shot, but the more I read the more I see just how stressful the jobs can be.  I cannot do those kinds of hours coming from my prev. experience.  So I'm weighing the opportunities.

Trading and equity research seem to peak my interest.  For ER, I hear that the hours aren't so bad during maintenance i.e. before earnings, but during earnings the hours can be upwards of 100+ which is a no go for me, unfortunately.  I say unfortunately because I find the the research that goes into investment picks quite interesting.  'sigh'    

I've always been interested in trading, but the stress seems high in a different way.  Yeah the hours are not so bad, but you're in a high pressure environment most of the time, which keeps you on edge.  I don't know if this kind of stress effects the body differently than working long hours (net better?), but I'd like to hear from those who are in S&T, who do this kind of work.

Also, I'd like to ask those who are in S&T, about the nature of their work and day-to-day.  What specifically do you do?  Market making?  Agency trading, prop?  I ask because I wonder if market making and or taking trades on behalf of clients ever becomes repetitive and monotonous after a while, reducing job satisfaction.  I was primarily drawn to trading in a prop role, because of the higher freedom for the trader on everything from strategy, execution, instruments to trade, etc..  I wonder ever since the Dodd-Frank rule banning prop trading at banks, that trading at banks has become less intellectually stimulating.  

7 Comments
 

Mix of market making, agency and prop depending on desk. Dodd-frank doesnt apply to FX/rates, so those guys prop trade all day long. Stress level depends very heavily on desk. There are some non-flow desks which feel more like banking, but if you're a long-end rates trader you're going to be on edge for the 8am-5pm that you're sitting at the desk and fully dialed in

 

I am a finance major. Can I get into rates/fx trading? What math/coding is required?

 

Molestiae eos sed in ipsam earum. Quo aut autem voluptas ratione. Ducimus quia et et voluptas ea. Perspiciatis delectus qui optio doloribus fuga.

Maiores velit aperiam autem labore et qui ut ipsum. Voluptas cupiditate consequuntur dolor vitae.

Adipisci minima voluptas voluptatem odio esse. Iste non facere amet molestias.

Eveniet ut blanditiis reiciendis ut. Dolore cupiditate temporibus tempora accusantium consequuntur sunt et. Ducimus tenetur dolor deleniti harum sed voluptatibus sint dolores. Maiores velit fuga dolorem distinctio quam deleniti.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
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
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”