"I'm an MD in a bank. My juniors hate me and think I'm rich"

29 September 2025

3 minute read

Something has broken in the investment banking industry. I have worked in this industry for well over a decade and never have I faced such animosity from the younger generation.

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It's harder than ever to get analysts and associates to put in the hours necessary to get the job done. When I explain what is expected of them, I am hit with a barrage of resentment.

Often this is expressed in demeanour rather than words or actions, but sometimes it's so obvious that I have felt threatened.

This was particularly the case a year or so ago when we made a round of layoffs that impacted some of the juniors on my team. I was blamed for letting them go even though the matter was out of my hands.

I don't think that young people in banking fully understand what it means to be a managing director (MD).

I am a line MD and not a head of business. I don't have as much power or as much money as my juniors seem to think. I don't earn millions of dollars. I don't live a fancy life. I live with my wife and my children in a modest house, and I drive a modest car. I am constantly under pressure and always fighting to keep my job. This industry isn't what it used to be; there's been a lot of pay compression since the Lehman days.

There's a particular cohort of juniors who don't seem to understand this. People who were hired in the pandemic (who are now not so junior) have been particularly aggressive and p*ssed off. I understand where their frustration is coming from. There was a lot of activity and then it went quiet. Many of them have seen their friends laid off.

They blame me. But that's just what this industry is like. I've lost my job repeatedly during my career but I've never blamed my boss. I've never felt resentful that my boss earns more money than me.

I grew up on welfare with a single mum. I know it's hard out there, but stop with the hate.

Ryan Booth is the pseudonym of a managing director in an investment bank

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AUTHORRyan Booth

Insider Comment

GA
GA
16 October 2025
Oh, dear, let's see: assuming that this message is true (sorry, eFinancialCareers but your rumours are often a bit... vaporous?). Is there anything more annoying than a privileged person complaining about how tough is his life and unfair are his underlings?
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Sk
Skeptical FR
10 October 2025
If one junior blames you for being laid off, that's his problem. If a full cohort is complaining about you, maybe the issue isn't just the junior's layoff and you should start questioning your way of managing the team (not necessarily the long hours, but if there is 0 career upside in the long term and frequent layoffs, the juniors' point of view is understandable).
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Ei
Eieio
8 October 2025
If you listen carefully you can hear the world's smallest violin 🎻
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TS
TS100
2 October 2025
Totally agree with the ex hedge fund guy here. It is not necessary to get analysts and associates to works long hours if there is no career upside. At the end of the day this is a corproate job with a standard weekly hour practice and with good ethos people can flex 5-10% , not do all nighters! If you aren’t rich then why should juniors burn the midnight oil. Take a deep look. It’s not their fault that you cannot manage upwards and enforce good working practices. I often see non-revenue teams over-worked! Sorry why? Their upside is not comparable to the analysts who work in revenue teams, no matter their hard work, length in service or whatever. They also don’t get paid to that extent! They can’t afford to take taxis after 10pm , there is no client log refunding them. They still have to pick up their kids. They still have to go home and cook a meal. They don’t have the $40 meal stipend ! So whoever this “not to rich” MDs are , sorry it’s your fault that you are mid-managing,
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Ex
ExHedgeFundSWE
1 October 2025
If you’re not rich then why would you expect the junior folks to work long hours? The deal is that you work stupid hours and are rewarded in the not too distant future with big bucks. If there are no big bucks then it’s just another job and not worth working all night.
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