Hi all,A question especially for the most experienced members of the forum: for how long quants remain useful within a fund? How long is a common lifecycle? What about later, in their 50s? Do they move to a more managerial position? How old are 'senior' quants?Why am I asking? Career choices: I am already 35 and my quant experience is 1.5 years. I am(?) older due to studies and work, no voids exist in the CV's timeline. Applying for junior quant positions or just quant positions seems more appropriate to you?Thank you.

These days you might consider that in the future employees will need to work into their 70's.

A lot of people are actually wanting to quit, but can't because of other obligations. Line from an interesting article -"I do wonder what the aggregate effect of hundreds, or thousands, or millions of other minds?in their prime?will be when they?ve checked out of the global workforce".http://qz.com/228387/why-i-stopped-teaching/I guess this applies to the banking industry as well

QuoteOriginally posted by: access1nashA lot of people are actually wanting to quit, but can't because of other obligations. Line from an interesting article -"I do wonder what the aggregate effect of hundreds, or thousands, or millions of other minds?in their prime?will be when they?ve checked out of the global workforce".http://qz.com/228387/why-i-stopped-teaching/I guess this applies to the banking industry as wellThey're heavily in debt, they know the level of services provided by the state has been eroded over the last 30 years, their children are often 25 and still at home.They don't have an option of "checking out".

I'm also interested in this question. From my limited experience inside investment banks, no-one seems to be over about 55.Have they all retired? Or do you go and do something else less demanding?

QuoteOriginally posted by: emacHave they all retired? Or do you go and do something else less demanding?I'd assume the latter is more common than the former.

QuoteOriginally posted by: dfeynmanWhat about later, in their 50s? Do they move to a more managerial position? How old are 'senior' quants?The oldest quants I ever met in my life were about 50 and they were very few. With 50 you get promoted to a managerial position (only if you're not too good), you go back to the university or you open your own consulting/software/trading/head hunting company and go bankrupt.

QuoteOriginally posted by: GamalQuoteOriginally posted by: dfeynmanWhat about later, in their 50s? Do they move to a more managerial position? How old are 'senior' quants?The oldest quants I ever met in my life were about 50 and they were very few. With 50 you get promoted to a managerial position (only if you're not too good), you go back to the university or you open your own consulting/software/trading/head hunting company and go bankrupt.Gamal, from your comments on another thread it's clear your experience is skewed towards very successful big-name quants who made millions in the good times. My job title is quant and I'm employed by the front office but I'm just keeping my head down, churning out code, and earning about the same as a successful London plumber. No-one needs any new models coded, no-one is interested in reading or writing academic papers. I am 47 and will probably get laid off the next time cuts are deemed necessary, but there are hopefully enough quant devel jobs in the City to keep me employed for the next decade or so. Happy days!

QuoteOriginally posted by: MattFI'm just keeping my head down.It's a good prescription to survive, especially in Frankfurt, I'm not sure if in London. But how can you have fun then?

You don't need "fun" when you're 47.

QuoteOriginally posted by: katastrofaYou don't need "fun" when you're 47.Oh yes you do ...

QuoteOriginally posted by: MattFQuoteOriginally posted by: katastrofaYou don't need "fun" when you're 47.Oh yes you do ...You always need fun, just different fun ...

Some fine wine, the smell of a good pipe and Whitney Houston on the gramophone.

QuoteOriginally posted by: katastrofaYou don't need "fun" when you're 47.That's when the fun starts.

QuoteOriginally posted by: rmaxSome fine wine, the smell of a good pipe and Whitney Houston on the gramophone.