Are these figures realistic??

<p>The</a> Hagan-Ricci Group | Experts in Quant Jobs, Quantitative Analyst Jobs and Quantitative Finance Jobs</p>

<p>i came across this link to this recruiting firm with job postings. Some of the listed salaries for certain job functions were pretty high</p>

<p>listings such as </p>

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[quote]
High-Frequency Traders
Location: NYC
$500,000 – $1,000,000

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</p>

<p>
[quote]
Statistical Arbitrage Quant Trader
NYC
$300,000 - $500,000

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</p>

<p>and</p>

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Market Risk Quant Analyst
NYC
$400,000-$500,000

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</p>

<p>to name a few</p>

<p>these figures seem extraordinarily high, especially in today's markets. My question is, to those who are actually working for major banks/funds, are these figures realistic to any degree at all? if they are, how hard is it to get such jobs.</p>

<p>They have to replace all the ones they just fired.</p>

<p>It is possible. But recruiting firms always jack it up to get your resume.</p>

<p>Those are reasonable average salaries, but for a median salary, cut those numbers in half. This is base + bonus, of course. (There are superstars who make $300 for the firm, take home $15M, and jack up those numbers.)</p>

<p>but dont the ppl in these positions have PHD's or a lot of experience? When i first read the thread i thought it was gonna be for fresh college grads LOL!</p>

<p>They all likely require an advanced degree in math, computer science, physics or finance. Preferably PhD.</p>

<p>What we are talking about is a massive IQ sort. They are looking for people who are 145+ IQ with the credentials to prove it.</p>

<p>" What we are talking about is a massive IQ sort. They are looking for people who are 145+ IQ with the credentials to prove it. "</p>

<p>Do you really think a High IQ is an indicator of success in the practical world? I mean how many of the ppl on wall street are in mensa or generally have a high iq? I know somebody whose in mensa and well, hes a tard in every meaning of the word and sucks at studying or anything else for that matter but he is really good at kissing butt so maybe hes a genius at that lol</p>

<p>It might be an indication in the mathematical world.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Do you really think a High IQ is an indicator of success in the practical world?

[/quote]
In quant finance, you need a high IQ to even be in the game!</p>

<p>
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I mean how many of the ppl on wall street are in mensa or generally have a high iq?

[/quote]
Considering the colleges they recruit from for IB, the average IQ is likely at least 1.5 standard deviations above the average American.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I know somebody whose in mensa and well, hes a tard in every meaning of the word and sucks at studying or anything else for that matter but he is really good at kissing butt so maybe hes a genius at that lol

[/quote]
Anecdotes are of no relevance.</p>

<p>Is an MFE degree usually enough for a quant position with hedge fund/bank, or is a quantitative PhD a prerequisite?</p>

<p>If you consider the fact that a large portion of Wall St. members are Ivy grads (and generally very intelligent individuals), it's not hard to imagine that a large portion of Wall St. would be eligible to join Mensa if they wanted to (2% of all Americans have an IQ high enough to join). To piggy back Mr. Payne's sentiments about the average IQ being 1.5 deviations, Mensa requires members to be two deviations, so I think there are quite a few Mensa members on the Street. And yes, I think that there is a strong correlation between IQ and success in the practical world but is not the end all, be all. </p>

<p>Despite not being on Wall St., this IB/PE guy is in Mensa.</p>

<p>ermmm ok but what i meant was that is that just coz a person isnt in mensa or
in anway "officially" doesnt have a high iq, he shouldnt consider a career in quantative finance (financial engineering) ? Ask me this. I know a person from outside my school who couldnt make mensa but he was an IMO participant and had like so many major math achievments, now what do u say of this??
ok i think u guys get what i mean now lol</p>

<p>oh and i know somebody who got into an ivy whos a reta** , nowhere close to a high iq, so its really really biaised and ignorant to say that most or all ivy league grads are super genii. I kno w plenty of ppl who arnt even studying colleges which are known on CC that are genuinely smart.</p>

<p>Oh a nd about that guy who's in mensa from my school, well he has barely ever got an A or even a B in maths, and he only takes NORMAL MATHS, not the harder one. Some indicator this is ( lol no offense to you lacero but just stating my point)</p>

<p>And Mr Payne yea ancedotes are of no evidence , but can u say without a hitch that its a scientific fact that all members of mensa or high iq ppl are successful in the practical world ( or the quant finance world) ???? If u can prove this with some solid proof, not g*y researches and studies, itll be kool lol</p>

<p>som1, reread my post. I clearly stated that generally Ivy grads are very intelligent. The inclusion of the word "generally" inherently means that some are not (some legacies, children of celebrities, old $, etc.). I also don't think anyone said you have to be a Mensan to be on the Street or pursue FE. Additionally, not everyone who has a high IQ is good at everything and likewise, you don't have to have an abnormally high IQ to be very talented at something (your IMO friend). As for your Mensa friend who is taking normal math, remember that Einstein wasn't great at math either (and no, contrary to legend, he didn't fail it). </p>

<p>I'm curious why you're interested in IB though. Given your...communication skills...I think you would struggle. Hopefully, for your sake, math is a strong suite.</p>

<p>Is Mensa the one with questions on some squares and circles? I don't believe that those stuffs have much to do with intelligence, or worse IB.</p>

<p>does one really need an incredibly high IQ to work in areas like M&A? i've heard that all analysts need to do is crunch numbers and make powerpoint presentations, which even a trained high schooler can do...it surprises me that first year analysts in M&A/Corp finance can make more than those in more quantitative positions in trading, which i daresay needs a hella lot more IQ than M&A work</p>

<p>" I also don't think anyone said you have to be a Mensan to be on the Street or pursue FE. Additionally, not everyone who has a high IQ is good at everything and likewise, you don't have to have an abnormally high IQ to be very talented at something (your IMO friend)."</p>

<p>This was my whole argument all along, coz it was posted earlier</p>

<p>"In quant finance, you need a high IQ to even be in the game! "
and
" What we are talking about is a massive IQ sort. They are looking for people who are 145+ IQ with the credentials to prove it. "</p>

<p>Thats all im saying, no need to get personal spiders, no need to diss my..."communication skills" while talking on an ONLINE FORUM lol...geez.</p>

<p>"Is Mensa the one with questions on some squares and circles? I don't believe that those stuffs have much to do with intelligence, or worse IB."</p>

<p>Yep many of the new iq tests with patterns dont even test mathematical ability, and SOMEHOW even if they do , well just go friggin shoot me lol.</p>

<p>In each case, it has more to do with how much you're contributing to revenues. If the grunt work of spreadsheets and powerpoint by IB analysts leads to 10 new deals coming in that can easily lead to much higher revenues than quant trading, which typically is also not going to have as much input from those one to two years out of college.</p>

<p>Interesting...is it true that for any BB, there are many more applicants for IBD positions as compared to S&T? if that's true, will it be safe to assume that the competition for S&T positions is significantly less?</p>