IS THIS THE END OF FINANCE ?? WHAT SHOULD WE BE GOING INTO?? (ADVICE FOR UNDERGRAD)

I recently got my first internship at a pretty good bank after working my ass off for it, and now im realizing it seems that this industry i have chosen is nothing like it was. I mean, i knew that going in, but there is no fucking money to be made on the sell-side. absolutely none. so what advice do you have? im still young so i have time i guess, but do I try to switch to a buy side firm doing global equities or fixed income, or do i scrap finance and do tech or some shit? I really would like to prosper, and it looks like the music is coming to a stop with the next recession around the corner. any advice from experienced people would be appreciated.

24 Comments
 
Funniest

recession?

https://media1.giphy.com/media/xTiTnHXbRoaZ1B1Mo8/giphy-downsized.gif" alt="trump" />

What concert costs 45 cents? 50 Cent feat. Nickelback.
 

there seems to be some opinions that 2020 could be a recession. im not an economist but is still a business cycle no? things have been good for a while and id imagine it cant continue as such indefinitely

 

Actually the business cycle is dead. Many countries have experienced 30 plus years without a recession.

There are economic models that can eliminate the recession.

All modern US recession (really since the oil embargoes in the ‘70s) have been caused by the federal reserve fighting inflation. With inflation more anchored now those recessions should be eliminated unless the fed does something stupid. The federal reserve is talking about hiking rates past the neutral level. That is the kind of thing that may cause a minor recession. If they do that when bank balance sheets are fairly safe it will result in growth potential hitting -.5% to 1%. A minor blip. Then reverse course when they see the economy slowing too much and back into moderate growth.

2020 recession is possible but depends on fed doing an unforced error.

 

So you did a single internship in S&T, are not even licensed to trade product and have reached the sweeping conclusion that S&T is dead? Yet, thousands of men and women with decades of experiences continue to show up work on the sell side at BBs making hundreds of thousands a year, instead of evacuating the business as your alarmist theory would suggest...

 

I may have exaggerated but my goal was to get people to chime in. You seem to be well informed, what are your thoughts? I've heard those left at the banks are the ones who didnt have the skill to move to the buy side to be quite frank. Im not very experienced so your opinion if you actually work in the role would be interesting.

 
Most Helpful

“Finance is dead. Long live finance.”

That is the best explanation of the current situation.

People will make great livings in finance. But the art of it is gone. There’s nothing interested left in it. The quants and passive money took out the art of trading. PE models were invented 30 years ago. The junk bond is 40 years old. The risks arbitrage guys are boring now. Central banks have largely figured out how to eliminate the recession. Bank balance sheets are boring. The old investment banking culture is gone from what I can tell. I mean people use to really love being a Lehman or bear or Goldman guy. Those days are over.

Finance is akin to being a highly paid special now.

Not sure tech is any better now.

 

Straight math skills. Learn coding, ML/AI, and cryptography. Focus on these technical skills now, (any firm regardless of the industry are looking for these) and they are much harder to pick up outside of school with no structured learning environment. Once you know these, all the finance stuff is easy and can be picked up in a matter of days of studying online.

 

Modi quia est est itaque qui qui deserunt. Eligendi non porro et vitae sed iste quidem. Porro labore corrupti aut. Et necessitatibus adipisci voluptate quo ipsam minima commodi amet. Eveniet officia exercitationem cum pariatur nulla impedit.

Velit laboriosam animi asperiores enim aut. Et dolor ipsum sint quis. Est laboriosam architecto accusamus officiis nobis. Magnam sunt voluptatem voluptates facere qui molestiae culpa. Voluptas ut exercitationem unde consectetur vitae perspiciatis voluptas. Provident culpa quo cumque sunt optio nihil.

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 98.2%
  • 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 (72) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
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...”