What Will You Spend Your Signing Bonus On?

As full-time start date begins in a few months, I was wondering what everyone is using their signing bonus towards. Are you using it for rent? A nice trip?

I'll probably use it on a nice trip but not really sure. Advice is appreciated.

 

Specifically - spend the bulk of that money on good shoes and/or outerwear. Good shoes make a huge difference both in looking professional and, generally, provide better long term value (especially ones you can get re-soled). You don't need to go crazy and get Allen Edmonds,(unless they are on sale) but something in the ~200-250 range generally can get you good quality and usability especially with a huge amount of new entrants to the space which are all over the internet.

Outerwear is my personal preference, i think that having quality, professional outerwear that will last awhile is worth a few extra bucks vs. cheaper, thinner made stuff that might hit on one thing (i.e. style) but doesn't keep you warm at all. It's not necessarily the most urgent thing on the list, but if you are trying to look the part and be professional - might as well round out the whole outfit.

 

^ Truth. Say your signing bonus is $10k pretax, after tax that's around $7500. If you're in NYC, you'll often be paying 2 months rent, security deposit, broker's fee, and moving expenses before you get your first paycheck. Even if you chose a cheap NYC apartment, that's still going to be a significant chunk of your signing bonus... so don't bank on using those funds to bankroll your pre-graduation globehopping adventures.

If you're in a region with better COL, then carry on.

 
ricottacheese:
when i started at GS/MS NYC my after tax signing bonus was more like 6K (10K pretax) - note that signing bonus is taxed like a bonus i.e. much higher than regular salary. you should use this for your first month's rent/deposit/fee, since you will need to pay all of those things before you have received your first real paycheck

im pretty sure this is correct. from my understanding my signing bonus (when i receive it) will be taxed the same as performance bonus, roughly ~40%

also for incoming first years, what bonus do you think we'll get? i was told based off of this years for 1st years i should expect 50k-60k from the head of my office

I don't throw darts at a board. I bet on sure things. Read Sun-tzu, The Art of War. Every battle is won before it is ever fought- GG
 

I have received two signing bonuses and utilized them in different ways. First, bought work clothes then spent the rest having a good time. Second, again work clothes but this time invested in industry learning material, a good gym membership, and saved a big chunk.

Advice here would be to spend it on something that will make you perform better in your upcoming role. If that's a vacation, take the trip and enjoy it. Just don't squander it and not be better off in the end.

 
Best Response

I'm using part of mine for a cool trip to South America and the other part I'm using to get my parents something. I know it seems cheesy, but they enabled me to do a masters at a European target school without having to rack up debt and this allowed me to find a good paying first job. It isn't that they couldn't really afford it and this was a HUGE financial sacrifice, but a sacrifice no less. Even if its something small like buying your mother flowers, your father a bottle of a spirit he loves or even taking them out to dinner. A gesture like this is the least one can do for them

 

Et ullam fugit sit optio corporis sint voluptatibus. Quo consequatur ut dolorum maxime et.

Ut dicta cupiditate nesciunt odit ullam et. Magni reiciendis consequuntur non quod maxime esse. Et quia rerum vero ut itaque ab. Autem amet quas ipsa velit. Temporibus cupiditate laudantium repellat recusandae natus. Voluptas aut deleniti et sed dolorum vel consequatur.

Corrupti doloribus fuga voluptas ut magni dolores. Doloribus asperiores architecto est. Enim id modi omnis possimus ut qui. Perferendis velit ratione et minima cum eius. Quod necessitatibus qui cum nulla ducimus eius. Dignissimos et beatae consequatur.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”