Can an average person become an investment banker?
Becoming an investment banker requires several years of higher education in addition to licensure. It also requires strong mathematical and analytical capabilities, which may be challenging for some people.
The lucrative and fast-paced career of an investment banker is a highly competitive one. For instance, in a recent year, 236,000 applicants competed for roughly 3,500 internships at Goldman Sachs. This is common across the industry where acceptance rates for programs are typically less than 2%.
Across the industry, even at the firms which saw slight year-on-year falls, the norm seems to be that the crude percentage chance of getting accepted to an investment banking graduate program is a bit more than 1%, but significantly less than 2%.
"Most people who get entry-level jobs in banking are aged 20 to 25 years-old," says one former trader. "Once you get beyond 28 years-old, it becomes a lot more difficult to get a front office job (in trading, sales or M&A) in a bank," he adds. "Of course, there will always be exceptions, but it's tough."
Yes, GPA matters! Bulge bracket banks and almost all other investment banks will look at your GPA when applying for a job and you should include it in your resume. Typically banks screen resumes based on GPA and will often remove anyone below 3.5.
Investment bankers typically earn salaries in the $200,000 to $700,000 range, with bonuses that can bring their total income up to several million dollars per year. To amass a million-dollar fortune, an investment banker would need to save and invest a large portion of their income over a period of many years.
Investment banking is a quantitative field, and having a strong foundation in mathematics is essential. If you're considering a career in investment banking, it's important to have a deep understanding of mathematical concepts such as calculus, probability, and statistics.
| Position Title | Typical Age Range | Timeframe for Promotion |
|---|---|---|
| Associate | 25-35 | 3-4 years |
| Vice President (VP) | 28-40 | 3-4 years |
| Director / Senior Vice President (SVP) | 32-45 | 2-3 years |
| Managing Director (MD) | 35-50 | N/A |
- Even with education, experience, and enthusiasm, investment banking might not be for you.
- Investment bankers work long hours and often earn a high income.
- Lack of work-life balance is one reason to avoid becoming an investment banker.
- Investment bankers must also be able to manage high-pressure situations.
Investment banking is very well paid, but sign-on bonuses and a healthy pay packet come at a price. To survive as an investment banker, you need to have a high stress threshold. You also need to be willing to say goodbye to your social life for a few years.
Is 37 too late to start a new career?
Is 37 years old too old to transition into a new career? Yes, it is possible to start a new career at 40 — or 50, or 60, for that matter. It might take some extra effort, but it\x27s never too late to set new personal ... No one is too old for starting over.
| Investment Banker Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 58% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 14% |
It can take 4-6 years to become an investment banker. If you are currently pursuing a relevant undergraduate or graduate degree from a prestigious university you may be able to become an investment banker after graduation by being recruited.
Q: What are your GPA requirements? A: We value diverse degree backgrounds and experiences and while a GPA 3.2 (or equivalent) in your undergraduate degree is preferred it is not required. Our training programs are designed to allow everyone, regardless of major studied to succeed.
Goldman Sachs does not give a specific minimum GPA requirement, though some sources suggest a GPA of at least 3.6 is preferred. Additionally, you may need to show relevant coursework and hard skills for certain programs.
Master's in Finance: MIT, Princeton (more of a quant program), UT Austin, UVA, Vanderbilt, WashU, Notre Dame, USC, Claremont-McKenna, and maybe a few others (best to look at employment reports here). MBA: The M7 schools, Yale, Stern, Haas, Ross, Tuck, Fuqua, Cornell (Johnson), and possibly a few others in the top ~20.
Moelis (born 1958) is an American billionaire investment banker. He is also the founder, chairman and CEO of Moelis & Company, a global independent investment banking firm.
- Anesthesiologist: $239,200.
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist: $239,200.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: $239,200.
- Psychiatrist: $226,880.
- Nurse Anesthetist: $203,090.
- Pediatrician: $190,350.
- Orthodontist: $174,360.
$24,500 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $68,500 is the 75th percentile.
It's normal to have these thoughts and it's good to ask these kind of questions before you get into it. Believe it or not, mastery of advanced math skills is not necessary to have a career in finance.
Do investment bankers make 7 figures?
On average, a first-year investment banker makes a 5-digit salary, in the range of $70,000 – $90,000, while a 7-digit salary is considered above average and is difficult to achieve for most people in their careers.
Yes, many people have become rich by working in investment banking, particularly in the area of mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
| Position Title | Typical Age Range | Base Salary (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst | 22-27 | $100-$125K |
| Associate | 25-35 | $175-$225K |
| Vice President (VP) | 28-40 | $250-$300K |
| Director / Senior Vice President (SVP) | 32-45 | $300-$350K |
Investment Banking is a highly prestigious profession in the field of finance and whoever works in this sector is known to lead a luxurious life making it a hot career choice for many people. So yes, if you work hard and do your job right, there's no way you cannot become a millionaire.
How Many Hours do Investment Bankers Work? Investment bankers work notoriously long hours, with the typical work week filling in 60-80 hours per week, and the occasional high-intensity work week that can push a banker to 100+ hours.
