Working on Wall Street: The Pros and Cons of an Investment Banking Career

Working on Wall Street, especially in investment banking, is a high-octane experience characterized by intense competition and long working hours. This environment is full of talented and highly educated colleagues, providing a stimulating atmosphere that pushes you to perform at your absolute best.

Exciting Opportunities and Challenges

From my own experience, working in investment banking is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it offers incredible learning opportunities and potentially high financial rewards. As an example, I led a complex MA transaction that brought together firms from opposing sectors, and the euphoria of closing that deal and the subsequent valuation spike was exhilarating. It truly underscored the value that investment banking can create in the market.

Challenges and Pressures

However, the long hours and the pressure to deliver constant results can significantly impact personal lives. This is far from a 9-to-5 job; it's often a 9-to-9 or even a 24-hour rush to meet deadlines. The glamour associated with Wall Street can sometimes obscure the reality of the burnout risk.

Does Wall Street Suit Everyone?

Would I recommend pursuing a career in investment banking? It depends on your personal goals and resilience. If you thrive under pressure and want to challenge yourself, investment banking can be very rewarding. However, it demands a significant trade-off in terms of work-life balance.

Entrepreneurial Journey of Robert Kehres

Robert Kehres, a seasoned entrepreneur, fund manager, and quantitative trader, provides a real-life perspective on what it's like to work on Wall Street. At 20, Robert worked at LIM Advisors, the longest continually operating hedge fund in Asia. At 30, he became a hedge fund manager at 18 Salisbury Capital. His entrepreneurial journey includes founding Dynamify, a B2B enterprise Facebook SaaS platform, and Yoho, a productivity SaaS platform. In 2023, he founded Petronius Capital, an equity derivatives proprietary trading firm, and KOTH Gaming, a fantasy sports gambling digital casino.

Conclusion

In the end, it's crucial to assess your personal and professional goals diligently. If you're willing to commit and have the capacity to weather the inevitable trials, Wall Street can be the launching pad for extraordinary opportunities not just in investment banking but across the financial sector.