<p>what other careers (besides the obvious like doctors, lawyers, and engineers) are good if you have a type A personality, want to make lots of money, and especially have lots of prestige/power? would actuaries, or quants fall into that description?</p>
<p>define “lots of money, and especially have lots of prestige/power”?</p>
<p>The reason I ask is because if you go to WSO, people are so out of touch with reality that they think a 250k salary is nothing. If I ask a bum on the street what is “lots of money”, he’d be happy with 40k per anum and a steady job (if that).</p>
<p>Having said that, accounting, actuaries/quants, commercial banking, even corporate finance (non-IB corp finance) will give you the opportunity for a greater than 6 figure salary. The question is, are you motivated enough to put the work needed to earn that kind of living?</p>
<p>Secondly, I must inquire, what is so special about having a “prestigious” job? If you really are willing to sacrifice a job you enjoy because you think someone else will think less of you, then you have other issues. In the real world, nobody cares what job you have, and the people that put a ton of emphasis on that are disliked for a reason.</p>
<p>by lots of money, i mean at least 6 figures. </p>
<p>‘Secondly, I must inquire, what is so special about having a “prestigious” job? If you really are willing to sacrifice a job you enjoy because you think someone else will think less of you, then you have other issues. In the real world, nobody cares what job you have, and the people that put a ton of emphasis on that are disliked for a reason.’</p>
<p>the thing is, i dont really have a passion for any specific field, and since i just have a general interest in math and the sciences, so i cant really decide which i would like more between being an engineer, actuary, quant, IBanking, CEO, etc. Also, i’m just curious as to what the jobs are the most prestigious</p>
<p>Hmm that’s fair. But seriously, you’ll figure out on your own what you like better. If you truly like something, you won’t care how prestigious it is. </p>
<p>If you want to keep your options open, just go with an engineering degree. Wallstreet/insurance companies like a quant background and you can always get an MBA later anyways.</p>
<p>i already have a physics/applied math BS degree, unless you mean i should get a MS in engineering? it was only until my last couple years that i decided i didnt want a phD in physics, so thats why i dont know much about professions such as IBanking, CEO, etc</p>
<p>CEO is not a profession…</p>
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<p>:D hahahahahahahahahaha :D</p>
<p>You’re all over the board salary wise. Most engineers, who work at engineering jobs, don’t make nearly the money some of the other careers on your list do. It tales quite awhile for most to break 6 figures and most don’t go much past $100K during their whole career whereas some of the jobs you list start higher than that.</p>
<p>What doctors will make in the future is questionable, but even now, other than in a few specialties, most make nowhere near what a banker, good size company CEO or good actuary make.</p>
<p>Do what you love and what you’re really good at.</p>
<p>‘most make nowhere near what a banker, good size company CEO or good actuary make.’</p>
<p>really? i thought actuaries make salaries similar to engineers?</p>
<h2>really? i thought actuaries make salaries similar to engineers?</h2>
<p>Actuaries make a lot more than engineers</p>
<p>[Actuary</a> Salary Survey - actuary jobs - D.W. Simpson & Company, Inc. , actuarial, actuaries, Employment, Salaries, Insurance, Statistics, Mathematics, FCAS, ACAS, ASA, FSA, Student, FCIA, FIA](<a href=“http://www.dwsimpson.com/salary.html]Actuary”>Analytics and Actuarial Executive Search - DW Simpson)</p>
<p>Are you sure about that? Doctors not making anywhere near actuaries, even good ones? That claim sounds a bit dubious in my ears. I think even nonspecialist physicians make at least as much as qualified actuaries with several years of experience.</p>
<p>I think with the way the government is handling health care, many doctors won’t be able to catch up with actuaries for years and years. I mean when one considers all the debt, extra years of schooling(and not working), bad pay in the early years, etc…you’ve gotta be really making serious cash beyond what actuaries are getting to make up for your first 10 years as a doctor…</p>
<p>What ever you enjoy the most is the best job</p>
<p>The the work that will make you wealthiest depends on your values. I like helping people so I own a Registered Investment Advisory, I also consult in VC. The wealth for me comes from helping people not from just money. That’s why I’m independent. I control my time, my business, my products, my choice in client, etc. That’s value to me.</p>
<p>I also value hard work independence and self-determination. That’s why I love the VC business. I respect my clients (and prospective clients) for their work and sacrifice, and I want to help make them successful. When I start to take on portfolio companies I will feel the same about them.</p>
<p>I respect my GF who is like a social worker. She wants her PhD, and is on the verge of going into solo-practice. I respect her for being driven, altruistic, and really really bright. I couldn’t do social work, it’s not my thing. I consider her really wealthy because her life is full and she is a success or if she struggles she is willing to do what it takes to achieve her idea of success.</p>
<p>I was a soldier. Soldiers don’t make money, so a professional soldiers wealth comes from something deeper than money. I worked in special operations alone in the combat zone. My wealth came from helping the local people stay safe and secure, and protecting the regular soldiers in the brigade I was supporting.</p>
<p>You can’t get a true answer on this board or from anyone on what brings wealth and prestige. That answer only comes from within.</p>
<p>BTW - I’ve been a businessman since childhood. I always has cold hard cash in my pocket even before I knew how to read. My first board game was a game called fortune 500 where I learned about industry and business management. So I didn’t choose my career on a whim or for just money. I love business.</p>
<p>Management consulting.</p>
<p>hmom5-We can’t compare an average doctor to a CEO. You can’t just become a CEO like you can become a doctor. OP-just because you’re good at math doesn’t mean you can just become a banker or quant. The Quant guys aren’t just “good” at math.</p>
<p>Actuaries don’t make a lot more than engineers. Most decent engineers will make over 100k. You can make a lot of money as an engineer. My uncle is an engineer in his 40s and made over $1million last year.</p>
<p>Traders can also make a lot.</p>
<p>Hah…somebody here wrote that doctors make less money than actuaries and engineers. Well I know some sergeons who make 100,000 - 200,000 per month. Can you compare them to actuaries or engineers, who make this annually? In each profession there are some people, "the best,"who earn the most.</p>
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<p>What branch?</p>
<p>Army 38A20LP - Civil Affairs Sergeant, Linguist, Parachutist.</p>
<p>Just be famous.</p>
<p>I don’t think most surgeons make 7 figures. I’m sure some do(best brain surgeons, Hollywood cosmetic surgeons). Most doctors won’t make that. They have to make A LOT more than actuaries in their prime years because they have to pay so much up front in terms of medical school(4 years of high tuition and no income) and their first years as residents. The actuaries will have a real head start on them and don’t need to worry nearly as much about a few malpractice cases making their insurance premiums skyrocket. They also don’t have to worry about Obama deciding that Obamacare would be a lot cheaper if doctors get paid like bus drivers. The Germans figured that trick out years ago with their health care system.</p>