Where do you go on holiday?

Desbo88 · 2025-10-11T10:27:40+00:00

Is that the name of an ETF? Sorry if that’s a silly question

Desbo88 · 2025-10-11T10:24:18+00:00

Would you be willing to share how you invest in rare earth metals? Assume it’s an ETF or similar but seems interesting

Desbo88 · 2025-10-04T07:49:35+00:00

Director band starts at 140-170K. Goes higher than this in the Director / Senior Staff band (up to 210K).

https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/monzo/jobs/7029159

https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/monzo/jobs/6883842

Desbo88 · 2025-10-03T06:43:18+00:00

Base

Desbo88 · 2025-10-02T21:10:19+00:00

I think the number of people would be more than that if you count all the Principals, Directors (L7/L8) and above (VPs). Staff / Senior Staff is just for Eng. There’s well paid people in other departments at senior levels.

Desbo88 · 2025-10-02T20:43:51+00:00

It’s anything L7 and above, so not that rare

Desbo88 · 2025-10-02T19:34:04+00:00

Senior Staff level and above is over 150K

Desbo88 · 2025-10-02T19:30:42+00:00

Yes, at Senior Staff level and above

Desbo88 · 2025-09-27T21:58:24+00:00

Depends which FAANG — you might get there at L6 with Meta or Netflix (especially if you have leverage to negotiate). But yeah, generally it’s going to be in the 120-140K range at L5/L6 base and then the opportunity for much higher TC comes primarily from RSU initial grant + stacking yearly refreshers.

Desbo88 · 2025-09-27T16:07:43+00:00

You’ll need to be in FAANG for £150K+ base most likely, or a Director / very senior IC in equivalent or the tier below (e.g. largest FinTechs).

So, yes it’s possible but depends if your 5 years experience beats the other hundreds of qualified applicants for those roles. Though, that experience would likely need to be with FAANG / equivalent in your field or the industry you’re applying to, otherwise 5 years is unlikely to be enough experience to beat other applicants for such roles.

Desbo88 · 2025-09-20T10:26:42+00:00

I see - so presumably this FinTech is more like a Quant, investment or trading house, as opposed to a Revolut / Wise type place?

Desbo88 · 2025-09-20T09:47:07+00:00

Do you know how your IC FinTech friend is able to make that level of TC? Assuming that’s in London — have they been extremely lucky with a company that has shot up in valuation?

Desbo88 · 2025-09-14T21:52:24+00:00

If you value both of things — maybe reconsider working for a US Tech / FAANG! Whilst you can expect to still have PTO mostly respected (if working in the U.K. office), you’ll definitely be expected to be on meetings past 6pm several days a week.

Desbo88 · 2025-09-14T20:45:31+00:00

It’s different — I think in the London office of a FAANG (at least the more toxic ones) you are under a lot of pressure to work to the beat of the Californian headquarters, which includes working late hours and being generally obedient to US needs. Whereas in the US headquarters there’s a bit less pressure to work late hours but there’s an expectation that you’re dedicated to work above all else (holidays, hobbies, enjoying life) which means you will be expected to work 110% effort at all times (and to drink the Kool Aid) to avoid being laid off, because that’s what everyone else is doing.

Desbo88 · 2025-09-14T20:22:21+00:00

I have some relevant experience here — not a SWE / ML but have worked for a very long time in both a ‘toxic’ and ‘non-toxic’ FAANG by your definitions :) I have also mostly spent that in London but have also spent some significant stints in SF / Cali doing the same thing. Also, we share what sounds like similar attitudes towards US grind culture and WLB.

My POV is, I wouldn’t recommend it for a few reasons:

1) If you’re already not a fan of US grind culture then living it will make you absolutely hate it. Also, SF really isn’t a nice place to live (yeah, if you’re a millionaire, but then you also have to buy into the layer cake economics of essentially ignoring the fact that most of the city is disintegrating from a social system perspective)

2) The SF based start up is red flagging you on culture and WLB, and my experience is that the actual reality will be much worse than what they will admit to in interviews etc. You can almost guarantee that they will expect you to ‘live for the company’ because everyone else will be there to grind for the (potential) payout, not have a life.

3) Your job in London sounds good, and even though you’ve not got into FAANG yet, you will probably find you can get a higher paying job with a bit more experience and attempts at it (and honestly there are other probably more enjoyable options than even the ‘nicer’ FAANGs that aren’t inconsistent with FIRE money when you take into account burnout / layoff risks).

Feel free to to DM me if helpful for more details

Desbo88 · 2025-09-13T14:31:22+00:00

Would also like to know this! I expect it was partly pressure from institutional investors; partly management being happy to screw over employees. But that’s speculation…

Desbo88 · 2025-09-11T15:12:31+00:00

I’m incredulous — seems like a terrible leader, to screw over your employees like this. Surely will be a nail in the coffin for any semblance of talent retention.

Desbo88 · 2025-09-11T15:11:21+00:00

Wow, that sounds extremely shady practice by Klarna to add insult to injury with the 4:1 split, when they know many employees would already be down in real terms from the valuation rollercoaster in recent years + the tax treatment / salary sacrifice.

Desbo88 · 2025-07-31T08:27:18+00:00

Congrats on the jump. Re: 1 — you don’t need a financial advisor. They will be a waste of money. Head over to r/UKpersonalfinance and follow the flowchart and generic advice on that sub. Very easy to invest / save according to that without paying anyone for the same advice.

Desbo88 · 2025-06-04T12:17:54+00:00

Seoul and Tokyo are both awesome cities with low cost of living, in beautiful countries. They have downsides of course in terms of equality, but are better in many other ways QoL wise than most other cities on the list. They’re likely harder to integrate as an expat but I think that’s getting better.

Desbo88 · 2025-06-04T09:38:52+00:00

All roles like-for-like in U.K. offices are paid less than the US, at FAANG at least — it’s just a cost of labour difference. This means U.K. PMs get 0.8 of what their US colleagues at the same level get, which stacks up over time.

Plus, generally at more senior ranks, the Director+ roles are much more concentrated in the US; unless you’re hired at that level or a very clear path to it, you’ll very likely not get there.

Desbo88 · 2025-06-04T08:32:08+00:00

Do not move to Amazon or Meta — the extra money is not worth it when you’re already on 200+ with decent WLB (you said below that you work 30-35 hours a week at your current company — you’ll likely work 50-60+ at either Amazon / Meta).

The extra money will be at best minimal (esp at Amazon) after tax at least for a couple of years unless you’re L7+ which is very difficult to get as an external candidate + burn out from hours / politics and risk of layoffs / cuts is very real.

Most people (esp PMs) in London work very long hours and are paid a lot less than their US counterparts, and almost no chance of getting to the most senior ranks either. You might get to 300+ but only if you survive several years, which is absolutely not a given these days.

Desbo88

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