<p>For those who are interested or already in the field, Why do you want to be an investment banker? Despite the long hours and grueling work, what makes this career so enticing? </p>
<p>I'm interested in knowing everyone's opinion.</p>
<p>I'm sure money is a reason, but it can't just be the only one ...</p>
<p>"I'm sure money is a reason, but it can't just be the only one ..."</p>
<p>I can tell you, if Ibankers did not make at least half a million a year, then the number of people who want to be an IBanker would be reduced down at least 80%. While a few people may really want to do ibanking cuz of their interest in stock market and fund management, vast majority want to do it cuz of $$$.</p>
<p>it's all about the benjamins. if you have an interest in the stock market and market trends, become an economist. I-bankiing is about money and prestige.</p>
<p>"it's all about the benjamins. if you have an interest in the stock market and market trends, become an economist. I-bankiing is about money and prestige."</p>
<p>That's crap. I go to the University of Chicago (1 of the best econ departments in the world), and I still contend that the best finance/econ research is done on Wall Street, not academia.</p>
<p>what kind of major and degree do you need for ibanking?</p>
<p>"That's crap. I go to the University of Chicago (1 of the best econ departments in the world), and I still contend that the best finance/econ research is done on Wall Street, not academia."</p>
<p>Perhaps academia features the best theoretical economic minds, while Wall Street showcases the most revered applied economic work.</p>
<p>I would agree. Work Life balance is non existent.</p>
<p>Investment banking (for me) gives a whole new perspective on how economics works, how much big businesses have an effect on the government and the public and how many other thinks work like international trade etc. etc. I know most of those are economics subjects but as an investment banker you deal with finance for all kinds of different areas of business. I think its very interesting, but the money doesn't hurt either....</p>
<p>I'm planning on investment banking, but not for finance. I think finance sucks. And I don't really care much about stock markets, especially not individual stocks. The interesting parts of investment banks for me (an econ major, NOT a business or finance major) are Currencies and Commodities.</p>
<p>I read about this stuff constantly anyway, for fun, for hours on end. So I figure I might be paid to stay as up-to-date as I would anyway, and work with other smart and motivated people, who are equipped with the tools to have intelligent conversations about what I'm interested in, which is reality-based macro and microeconomics. I really am not impressed by people who view economics as just a field of applied math or sociology.</p>
<p>
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The interesting parts of investment banks for me (an econ major, NOT a business or finance major) are Currencies and Commodities.
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<p>Where are you seeing the cross between investment banking and "currencies and commodities"? Unless you are talking about being a trader and not an investment banker. If the latter is the case then you should probably care about the stock market and individual stocks because there is a TON of overlap between the two.</p>
<p>the only reason people go into ibanking is for money.texassoccer is completely right</p>
<p>I'd go to do ibanking even if they didn't pay me a cent.
It's so adventurous :P</p>
<p>^if by adventurous you mean 80-100 workweeks...</p>
<p>Ah all this "work-life" dualism!
If you really like something then you shouldn't even consider it work. It's part of your life.
Have fun doing whatever you choose to do, and you won't even need holidays :)</p>
<p>Stormharmony,</p>
<p>Not true. I love math, but if I was doing it 80-100 hrs a week for years, I would suffer a mental breakdown.</p>
<p>storm...all the love in the world cannot make the first few years pleasent. you do ibanking, but not the fun glamorous parts...think of the most mundane, boring aspects of businerss, that's what your first THREE eyars will be...</p>
<p>Not if you get in as an MBA/associate?</p>