For entry-level investment banking analysts, the best case scenario happened in 2007. Base salaries were $60,000 and bonuses were $80,000, for a grand total of $140,000 in compensation. Not bad for recent college graduates.
However, on average, investment banking analysts will work around 90-100 hours per week in their first year, with 52 weeks of work per year and no vacation (excluding major holidays)!
So, how does an investment banker stay sane, healthy, and most importantly, attentive in order to produce quality work with great attention to detail? It is important to keep your body and mind in good shape with exercise and healthy eating.
The authors over at Internet Astronauts wrote up 10 reasons why it is important to exercise, and it relates well to the investment banking lifestyle of an analyst. Here is an excerpt:
As an internet entrepreneur [or I-banker] you never have enough time complete all the things you have on your list get done. Often working out is not high up on that list, but I’m going to encourage you to put it up there at the top… Membership fees cost around $20-50 a month and I promise you you’ll get a great return on your investment of cash and time. Have more energy, feel better, be happy, sleep better, be more successful… yes, I’m going to stretch this one all the way out and say a gym membership will in the long run make you more successful.
Take care of your body and it will take care of you, especially at 4am when you’re editing a pitchbook for the 1,000th time.
