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> "Why don't you [the astrophysicist] just bugger off to a bank for three years, make a stack of money, and then return with the freedom to do what you like?" A

> "Why don't you [the astrophysicist] just bugger off to a bank for three years, make a stack of money, and then return with the freedom to do what you like?" And he said, "Disappearing off to work in a bank for three years is career suicide." Although the IQ of the average astrophysicist is probably higher than the average banker, quant, or whatever, it seems far from certain that the astrophysicist will make a stack of money and become financially independent in 3 years.

joe_the_user 8y ago
I think once for those in the best school, especially in England, banking was very much a club where certain people could count on guaranteed money and success. I don't think it works that way any more but the idea could still be there in people's minds.
amelius 8y ago
That's probably because the astrophysicist spends 99% of his time thinking about astrophysics, and only 1% of his time about personal finance. Normal people, however ...
caymanjim 8y ago
> Although the IQ of the average astrophysicist is probably higher than the average banker, quant, or whatever, it seems far from certain that the astrophysicist will make a stack of money and become financially independent in 3 years. I think this is dismissive of the intellectual capacity of quants (which are not at all your average banker), and too flattering of the intellectual capacity of academics. More importantly, I think you haven't met many quants. Most of them WERE astrophysicists (and mathematicians and statisticians and from other computation-heavy academic backgrounds). If you have a PhD in physics, you can battle for one of the few slots in academia and deal with politics and favoritism and backstabbing and insultingly-low pay, or you can go to Wall Street and make a fortune.
- Retra 8y ago
  Oh, it's that easy? Just walk on over to wall street and make a fortune? Are they just handing them out or something?
  - caymanjim 8y ago
    Well, yes. They're handing out large six-figure starting salaries to computational mathematicians. Relative to adjunct professor or junior researcher salaries, it's a fortune. And that's before you've proven yourself successful. I was being hyperbolic, but not completely. I lament that finance and tech slurp up all the scientists, as I love science. It doesn't pay off for nearly as many people as the alternatives, though.

joe_the_user 8y ago

I think once for those in the best school, especially in England, banking was very much a club where certain people could count on guaranteed money and success. I don't think it works that way any more but the idea could still be there in people's minds.

amelius 8y ago

That's probably because the astrophysicist spends 99% of his time thinking about astrophysics, and only 1% of his time about personal finance. Normal people, however ...

caymanjim 8y ago

> Although the IQ of the average astrophysicist is probably higher than the average banker, quant, or whatever, it seems far from certain that the astrophysicist will make a stack of money and become financially independent in 3 years. I think this is dismissive of the intellectual capacity of quants (which are not at all your average banker), and too flattering of the intellectual capacity of academics. More importantly, I think you haven't met many quants. Most of them WERE astrophysicists (and mathematicians and statisticians and from other computation-heavy academic backgrounds). If you have a PhD in physics, you can battle for one of the few slots in academia and deal with politics and favoritism and backstabbing and insultingly-low pay, or you can go to Wall Street and make a fortune.

Retra 8y ago
Oh, it's that easy? Just walk on over to wall street and make a fortune? Are they just handing them out or something?
- caymanjim 8y ago
  Well, yes. They're handing out large six-figure starting salaries to computational mathematicians. Relative to adjunct professor or junior researcher salaries, it's a fortune. And that's before you've proven yourself successful. I was being hyperbolic, but not completely. I lament that finance and tech slurp up all the scientists, as I love science. It doesn't pay off for nearly as many people as the alternatives, though.