You are lucky to have been a banker in the good old days. Hearing stories just like yours, I had joined banking as well. Was from one of the top JCs in SG, got a place to study law at NUS but switched to finance, thinking that I can make alot of money and retire early to do "meaningful" things with my life.

Now, I'm stucked doing 14 hour days at a BB. Reading news that the bank is going to cut XXXX staff.

Base pay is still decent but gone are the days of the 6 figure bonuses. I am silently upset with my seniors who joined the bank 3-4 years before me. At least they had a taste of the "glory" days.

Now, no more 13 months bonus but rather 13th month. The **** thing is that whenever we have classmate gatherings, people still think that bankers earn alot of money!

How times have changed! Definitely won;t be able to retire by 45 at the rate I'm going.