Left my Consulting job and moved to Asset Management. One of the best career decisions I have made.

While over the years, I was chasing Investment Banking and Consulting roles, realised how underrated AM is as a profession.

Surely not as lucrative as IBD in terms of pay and prestige, but it is a sweet career path. The anxiety due to working into consulting became unbearable after a certain point and I realised that it's good, the growth is nice with decent pay but I don't think I can handle the stress of clocking 60+ hours a week and it's better to leave than being completely burned out.

In AM, I make much more than I used to make in consulting. I barely work 40-42 hours a week compared to 60+ in my consulting days with much more job stability and a better work environment. It's not all roses. There are days when there is a bit of pressure but these days are far and few in between and are much less brutal. I have enough time now to do whatever I want. Gym in the morning. Office at 10 and a game of tennis is the evening after work. Not to mention, I have enough time to spend with family.

I talk to my friends working in IBD on a daily basis and frequent rants about poor quality of life is now a part of our daily conversations.

I finally reached at a point when I realised that I should stop running after higher pay and start considering other aspects of life. Not saying that one should stop chasing money, but just the compensation should not be the only factor. All that money is of no use when you don't have the time to spend it with the same set of people you are earning this money for.