If you want to rise in the industry, you should be aware there is a fair amount of time spent attending social events and conferences. Even socializing after hours can become expected, and this can be expensive. The social circle tends to gravitate towards high-priced attire and costly hobbies, like golfing or wine collecting. Early in your career, you can expect to sacrifice a lot of control over your personal life. However, few other entry-level positions provide the possibility of such a large payoff come year's end.
Many companies use bonuses to attract and hold intelligent personnel.
Often these bonuses can be equal to or double the starting salary. An occasional fifteen-hour day is not unusual. Neither is an occasional night spent sleeping in the office. But the long hours tend to create a club of sorts. This camaraderie helps analysts tolerate the demanding work schedule.