I am an HFT Programmer

Post by huherto » Sun, Jul 31, 2011, 6:34 PM UTC

veyron wrote: post #84

veyron wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because you can make enough money to retire before you are 30, which means you can spend much more time with your wife and kids when that time comes. I wouldnt want to be the type of dad who has to stress out about money issues.

Replying to bmj (not sure why i don't see a reply link ...) For me, and I think for a lot of other people on HN, retirement means not having to work for the money. Which, for people in some areas of the world, isn't really that much. And in that vein, if you don't have to worry about the money, you can afford to say "no, I would rather go see my daughter's choral concert than work". Obviously I would keep myself busy…

Post by dedward » Sun, Jul 31, 2011, 6:41 PM UTC

mwg66 wrote: post #51

apaprocki wrote: post #47

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So one takeaway from this gem of a post is that if you don't write open-source code you're a shitty programmer?

I think the point is that anybody can say they write great code if they never have show it to anyone.

Post by chollida1 » Sun, Jul 31, 2011, 6:47 PM UTC

orijing wrote: post #48

TheEzEzz wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Squirrel it away for 5 years then retire on 5% returns on a million bucks ($50,000) a year?

But I don't want to retire! I know that by doing what I love for the rest of my life, I'll have enough to sustain my basic needs. 500k seems excessive. It's simultaneously too much for me to spend efficiently for myself, yet too small for me to do bigger things like fight cancer, invest in education, etc (like Bill Gates).

Post by Ganthor » Sun, Jul 31, 2011, 6:54 PM UTC

tmsh wrote: post #76

I used to work in HFT. From about 1999 (right out of high school) until 2008. In response to the OP, zedshaw and a couple of others (who make good points), I'd say: * obviously if you're good at your job in HFT after a while you don't have to work 100 hour weeks. People wait for you. There are levels of support. You still get woken up once in a while, but not if the firm is well structured and the support training /…

Post by Astrohacker » Sun, Jul 31, 2011, 6:57 PM UTC

Jd wrote: post #78

Astrohacker wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with everything you said with one important exception: The finance industry is not corrupt because of a lack of regulations. It is corrupt because of the regulations. The fact that Federal Reserve has been regulated into existence is a very deep problem, as is the fact that fractional reserve banks are always protected from failing by regulations. Regulations are the problem, not the answer.

Currency is regulated into existence. Someone has to print it. Like it or not, there are all sorts of natural monopolies which exist in nature. The first and foremost is a monopoly on violence by the state. This is, in fact, demanded by the citizens who have a lot to lose if companies et al. were also allowed to pursue their interests by brandishing weapons. Thus, the first regulation is that companies cannot pursue…