How to become a wealthy Investment Banker?

Comp in IBD is generally on level or higher then it was pre crisis.

Diversity is a big focus for many banks.

There may not be special programmes for them but white men still are the best paid in IB and the poster said he wanted the luxury millionaire life... Aw Sorry...I was in a programme called SEO Scholars (i'm black) but still there were loads of limitations for me too- they didn't let me apply to various opportunities because my parents went to Uni and I wasn't on free school meals. These programmes only help the most disadvantaged of the minorities..

I was also on this programme, benefited from various activities. I fell under the 'most disadvantaged' category. Now at first year of uni, doing very well for myself.

Use SEO as a platform to learn, there's no free lunch, apply like everyone else, utilise all the resources you have. A wise man once said to me "don't bitch and play the cards you're dealt."

Those who say the can and those who say the can't are both usually right.

Not really.

The report is here btw (Hope the image I attached is clear to see)- http://newfinancial.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Feeling-the-squeeze-New-Financial-report-on-pay-Feb-2015.pdf

Theres also a lot more white men who apply to the investment banks. Yeah 20-30 years ago that obviously would have been the case, which is probably when the most senior people started their careers. I don't know if you've ever worked at an investment bank, but analyst programs tend to be very diverse and who is going to be the senior people of the future. My MD was a chinese women. When I interned at a BB the vast majority of the intake in sales and trading was black,indian and pakistani.

http://www.goldmansachs.com/careers/why-goldman-sachs/diversity/diversity-us.html
https://www.morganstanley.com/people-opportunities/ischolarships_na.html
http://careers.jpmorgan.com/student/jpmorgan/careers/europe/workinghere/diversity#Recruitment

Most of these don't seem to mention income.

Thats pay at investment banks not pay in investment banking, pay in other divisions like s&t is undoubtedly down, but I think actual investment banking is about on par or higher.

Hello everyone,

I'm 17 years old studying Economics, Maths and German for my A-levels, getting straight A's in my tests and I've always wanted to be an Investment Banker.
I've have been watching the stock markets and looking how other top bankers made their millions to live the luxury life. I've heard it's hard to get into the Investment Banking field and not many people can become a millionaire.
My dad is a banker for HSBC and he's been telling me where he went wrong so I don't have to do the same mistakes. He told me about getting an MBA and to keep pushing myself and work hard.

Any other advice would be great,
Thanks.

lol a CS trader said to me last year

"You're Oxbridge, white and male... good luck you're going to need it"

(apparently CS put a 'cap' on the number/proportion of Oxbridge applicants they interviewed this cycle - don't know how true it is, seems ridiculous)

Surprising given every Oxbridge person I know who applied to CS got an offer...i had assumed they loved them. Though perhaps this is why they realised they need to put a cap... swings and roundabouts i guess

Why don't you get a worthwhile ambition? Simply wanting to be rich is extremely immature and will ultimately lead you to an unhappy and unfulfilling life.

Don't squander whatever talent you actually have.

true, i agree eg. a geography degree would be sufficient for trading etc. But if you want to go to a TOP bank then you should maximise your chances. Those subjects give you a better chance (assuming you get a 1st or high 2:1 from those unis i mentioned), everything else held constant.

Non-elite banks would be more okay with an arts degree from Nottingham/Southampton etc.

So much IB talk on this forum, but why so little discussion of quantitative analysis? Is it because it requires a great deal more mathematical/computational skills than IB, making IB seem like an 'easier' option? I'm just curious because quants receive very good salaries as well, but no one seems to speak about wanting to be one.

I'm interested in being one, maybe it's because people who are actually interested in being quants are busy studying? No time for bickering on here :P Seeing as most of them would be CS/Maths undergrads from Oxbridge/Imperial.

Would you say that only graduates from top places have a chance? I'm studying computer science at RHUL from the autumn, but I am also continuing my study of mathematics beyond my current 'Further Maths' level of understanding (partial differentiation, linear algebra, theoretical statistics), so that I can hopefully get onto a good masters course in the field.

I guess I am asking whether you think that if I get a BSc at RHUL, and a MSc at a higher-ranked place (possibly Oxford), if I would have a realistic chance of getting into an 'algorithmic trading' position. I'm hoping that quant recruitment focuses a little more on skills and ability than having studied XYZ, just so long as it was at a good university, as is the case for IB.

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You should ask these guys:

lol, don't ask me. I'm just a noob that codes things sometimes and likes a bit of game theory. My advice would always be 'do something that interests you if you want to be successful' anyway.Other than that, maths, programming, ability to think outside the box, and ability to bull**** at interviews all help. (that said my new app should make a few hundred k mwahaha and all it does is exploits matched betting in sports)

And OP, the top shops care about ability, not which uni you went to. It's always a lot easier to get a first round interview, but if you want to get through the 7th round with a job, you best be on your game.