Salaries in Finance

Is voluntary stock participation actually voluntary at your firm? My firm encouraged us to buy company stock with our bonuses. I’d much rather put my bonus into a diversified index fund than bet my en… more

I increasingly believe the highest ROI activity in leadership is allocation.Attention allocation. Capital allocation. Talent allocation. Most businesses don’t fail from lack of opportunity. They fail … more

I’m 29, single, and I just hit a $1M net worth, and honestly... I feel absolutely nothing. I’ve sacrificed my 20s, my fitness, and several relationships to see this number, and now that it’s here, I f… more

Is having a ‘more respected’ firm on your resume worth it even when the pay isn’t great? Because everyone wants to work here for the name on the resume, the firm knows they can pay us 20% less than th… more

How comparable are JP MORGAN salaries in Columbus Ohio to that of New York ? Wondering because obviously New York salaries are higher given cost of living and other factors but my current company is p… more

How to answer the previous salary question during the interview

There’s a quiet shift happening. The companies winning right now are not necessarily the loudest. They’re the ones building operational resilience while everyone else optimizes for visibility. Differe… more

How are you managing your mental health? I’m currently hiding in a bathroom stall at my office because the Sunday Scaries have evolved into a full-blown Tuesday morning panic attack. Every time my pho… more

What’s the biggest jump you’ve ever successfully negotiated when moving to a new firm? I gave a recruiter a walk-away number that was $50k higher than my current comp, and instead of flinching, they i… more

We’re being strongly encouraged to be in the office four days a week starting next month, with attendance tracking tied directly to our bonus metrics. The commute alone is going to cost me an extra $5… more

The best operators I know are becoming more skeptical of “speed.” Fast decisions are useful. Fast reactions are expensive.
There’s a difference between moving quickly and being emotionally over-responsive to… more

I’m currently over-employed with two mid-level remote jobs and I’m making $320k while working about 50 hours a week total. Both firms think I’m a solid B+ player who is always available but never quit… more

Does anyone work at a firm where the executives actually lead by example when it comes to spending? Our department’s travel budget for the year is larger than the combined salaries of the entire junio… more

I received a retention offer to stay in the most toxic environment I’ve ever been in for another 18 months. I handed in my resignation for a lower-stress role, and my current MD suddenly found an extr… more

My performance-based raise was exactly 1.5%, which is essentially a formal invitation to start interviewing elsewhere. I was rated Outstanding in every category. To be rewarded with a raise that doesn… more

I've been offered a national accounts manager role at a salary packaging company for $85k base and 4 - 10k bonus every year. Unsure of what the KYIs are, they say they're very achievable. Tota… more

I found out my firm is hiring External Consultants at $500 an hour to do the exact same job I do for a $140k salary. It’s a total slap in the face to the internal team that’s been grinding to keep the… more

How do you all stay humble (and frugal) when the industry is designed to make you overspend? The moment I realized my entry-level analyst makes more than my dad did at the peak of his career was a mas… more

I sat through a two-hour resilience training led by a guy who makes ten times my salary while my inbox hit 150 unread emails. It’s peak irony for the firm to lecture us on mindfulness and avoiding bur… more

Been relocated from abroad on H1B visa and currently going through the GC process. Looking at LinkedIn posts I could get much more outside for a similar position but stuck with the current employer. F… more

Have you ever used a coworker’s salary as leverage for your own raise? My work bestie makes $25k more than me because she’s a better negotiator, and I’m weirdly proud and furious. We started on the sa… more

I just found out that my fully remote contract has a clause that allows the firm to adjust my pay based on my location. I was planning to move to a cheaper state to save money, but HR informed me they… more

I have an annual review coming up and anticipate compensation being discussed. I'm with a small RIA firm, just the owner and I are licensed advisors. This will be my first year with the firm, and … more

I’m 27 and I have more money in my brokerage account than my parents have in their entire retirement fund. It’s a heavy realization that comes with a lot of guilt, especially since they worked manual … more

Is office cost-cutting a sign that the firm is in trouble? My firm moved to a hot-desking model and it’s a total nightmare for productivity. I’m making $180k a year and I have to hunt for a seat like … more

For those in client-facing roles, how do you keep the wealth envy from affecting your job performance? I work in wealth management and I’m starting to feel like a glorified therapist for people who ma… more

I found out our annual merit increase is a flat 2% across the board, which doesn't even cover my rent hike. It’s essentially a pay cut in real terms,. I’ve worked harder this year than ever before… more

Most people wait too long to act.
By the time they move, margins are gone.
Are you early enough?

I just got a signing bonus offer that’s larger than my entire annual salary at my first job. It’s enough to completely wipe out my remaining debt and put a down payment on a condo, but the clawback pe… more

I’m currently debating if I should take a pay-cut-for-equity deal at a fintech firm that’s burning cash like crazy. The base is $150k (down from my current $190k), but the potential value of the optio… more

Hi all,
I am currently seeking a new role within Finance and a lot of companies are asking about what is your expected salary. I am unsure of what to ask based on my experience.
I’ve worked at Citi for 3.5 years in FX O… more

I work in PE and I’m tired of the we’re all in this together speeches from partners who fly private. They ask us to tighten our belts on travel and expenses while they’re taking home eight-figure dist… more

I turned down a VP role at a competitor because their bonus history looked like a heart monitor. One year it’s $200k, the next it’s $20k, with no rhyme or reason other than the market. I’ve reached a … more

My firm’s transparency report revealed that I’m in the bottom 10th percentile for pay in my bracket. They sent out this fancy dashboard to show they are equitable, but all it did was prove that I’m th… more

My Senior title comes with the responsibility of an MD but the paycheck of a Junior Associate. I’m leading client pitches and managing a team of four, yet my base hasn't moved in two years because… more

I had my yearly performance review in January. My manager put down “needs improvement”. I only found out then that they had an issue with my performance and they put it down to the fact I was out sick… more

When someone leaves your team, does your company immediately post the job listing up or do you look to hire internally first? I’ve been with my company for a few years now and notice that they don’t l… more

I’m tired of the hustle propaganda in this industry telling me I need a side hustle when my day job already pays $200k. I see these influencers talking about passive income and flipping houses while I… more

I just got an offer that is $50k higher in base salary but that would require me to move from a MCOL to a HCOL. Is the $50K increase enough to switch or is the amount too small for COL?

What’s the most underwhelming reward you’ve ever received for going above and beyond? I just got a spot bonus for saving a massive deal, and it was literally a $50 Starbucks gift card. It’s almost mor… more