USD 300k Inheritance or AM Recruiting During COVID-19?

I need career advice from kind monkeys. This sounds like clickbait (because of the inheritance); but it isn't. I've made a shit go of my early career, summary below:

1) Did a favour for communist friend after uni - spent half a year building an NGO. Humble, but measurable results - got free clothing for hundreds of abandoned senior citizens + funded 3 cataract surgeries
2) Networked into Big 4 for second-tier consulting - 6 months before b-school
3) Got a non-MBA Masters degree from London Business School
4) Got a 1 year contract at a long-only equity fund specialising in EM equities - didn't get renewed because of "cost-cutting"; but I'm pretty sure I underperformed

Grandmother who loved me died. Left me money. Have also done well in US + UK stocks since 2016. Since I'm frugal, I can exist on 8k a year. I'm now financially secure for at least 2 decades, as I live in an emerging market. My options are below:

a) Risk 20k for a lifestyle business I can then spin into something impressive for second b-school run. I've also consulted with various immigration lawyers who advise me that as long as I incorporate and sell properly, I can consider this as work experience for potential residency in Canada, Australia. Expands my job set down the line.

b) Don't break the EM equities-focused AM momentum. Find whatever job I can get in my third-world country. My concern is that this may actually be a wrong move, since I'm moving from a small 100m AUM fund to a no-name bank in the middle of nowhere. I've gotten advice that a startup can be pitched as, "I prioritised feeding myself during a crap job market - and I grew tremendously along the way." Then as long as the timing is right, I can lateral back into finance as long as I don't spend too long on the business.

Retirement is a delusional non-option, despite the money. I strongly believe in earning the right to exist through work. That said, I'm cognisant of the temptation of risking all savings (hence, small bet for option A) on some pipe dream venture in the middle of a global supply shock. That said, 1.5 years of non-BB experience won't do much for me?

 

Ut voluptas fugit quod ut. Excepturi et qui quis eveniet accusantium sed rem. Corrupti in aliquid placeat dolore et. Omnis possimus consequatur atque qui et cum dolores. Dolorem ipsa accusantium minima quo. Adipisci atque nemo perspiciatis qui omnis omnis beatae.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Lazard Freres No 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. 25 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (21) $373
  • Associates (91) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (68) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”