Quote from carl1111:
I have noticed some of your posts here, and you seem to know a lot about trading options. I have a career choice question for you. I am a very recent graduate from a top undergraduate business school, and I finished in the top 2% of my class there Beta Gamma Sigma. I interned last summer at Goldman Sachs as an investment banker, and received an offer to return full time. However, I also received a job offer at a trading firm that specializes in trading options based on volatility. They look for news, events, earnings releases and make trades based on that. This firm has been very profitable in the past, and it is growing. It is a market-TAKING firm as well, not a market-maker. It is off-floor. Overall comp at goldman would be nearly 150k first year, given weekend comp which they provide, signing bonus, and end of year bonus, not to mention 2 free meals each day provided by them. The trading firm is offering a salary of around 45k first year, and a possible bonus of 10-20k. I have never traded before, but I am very interested in it, however I am afraid that I will not be good at it. What do you think is the biggest key to success at trading options? I am very hard working and somewhat intelligent, and this stuff is the key to success in something like investment banking, but I am not sure if this will translate over to trading success. If I start at goldman, in a way I cannot lose, because I keep all doors open while making decent money. I can go to business school, law school, or probably get in to private equity. However, I consider this trading opportunity to be pretty compelling as well, especially since they are growing and there is a big opportunity for advancement somewhat quickly, and the markets are getting more volatile. I would not want to completely stink at trading options and then have to start all over, at a disadvantage (although I will always have my undergrad record on my resume which is a strength) What are you thoughts on which opportunity to take? How hard is it to get in to a good trading firm, even after a couple years at goldman as an analyst? I know of a 26 year old at the trading firm that earned around 500k this past year in total comp. Would working at a trading firm be considered good qork experience for getting in to business school later, if I then wanted to go to an i-bank as an associate? Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.