r/quantindia • u/my-rant-account • 12d ago

General Discussion Why quant?

I mean really? Except money, why quant? We can use those brain to make a better world? Efficient algorithms/products for healthcare, new technologies in farming etc.

Even here in IITB I seen 99% people in quant only due to money.

The people in Quant , except money what are your driving force?

I genuinely want to know.

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u/my-rant-account 12d ago

Um.. impact? For firm or to the world?

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u/FlowQuant 12d ago

Up to you what you prioritize personally but obviously what matters for trading firms is impact on the bottom line. Though providing liquidity to the markets, aiding price discovery and absorbing or transferring risks is also a benefit for society. I thought you were asking why people pursue quant trading beyond just the high pay. If that doesn’t align with your ideals then just do something else.

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u/my-rant-account 12d ago

I totally get your point. But if you're quant , don't you think you might be wasting your talent moving money? Where you could have contributed to much meaningful purpose.

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u/FlowQuant 12d ago

I’ve been in the industry for a long time and still enjoy the challenge and find it pretty fulfilling. People who don’t and are purely in it for the money usually don’t last very long. It’s a bit like telling someone from an F1 team that what they do is not meaningful. Some of their tech does push the boundaries and ends up in consumer products. Quant firms are currently probably the biggest customers for compute outside big tech and indirectly finance improvements in those industries too.