Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 3:51PM

Was wondering when this news was going to hit. Heard end of last week that they were looking at 10-15% cuts across the organization.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 3:52PM

I would have went with a pic of a certain castrated bull...but that's me.
Fuck Merrill

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 3:54PM

10 to 15% cut sounds pretty small. the shape they're in i would have expected more like 30 to 50%.

what departments are most affected? IT and backoffice for sure. How about i-banking (m&a advisory) and s&t? does ken lewis really want to build out those businesses or does he only want the retail brokers?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 3:58PM

lower manhattan is already like a ghost town -- I think there have been a lot more cuts than anyone wants to admit...

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:00PM

@4 this is an additional 15% on top of the big cuts that have already happened..Total cuts are probably in the 25%+ range after this. B of A only wanted the Wealth mgmt group, everything else is expendable.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:01PM

@4 MER had 60,000 employees on 6/30: 45,000 of which are US. So 15% of the US alone is nearly 7,000 jobs. That is an awful lot of people.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:01PM

Been through it once myself - they have my sympathy - no schadenfreude her

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:01PM

Been through it once myself - they have my sympathy - no schadenfreude here

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:04PM

@4 MER had 60,000 employees on 6/30: 45,000 of which are US. So 15% of the US alone is nearly 7,000 jobs. That is an awful lot of people.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:11PM

#8,11

cut out 20-25,000 brokers from that #

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:12PM

what is going on at other banks? why so quiet? i still know people who work in lev fin, real estate and mortgage structuring and i know they do nothing all day. are those guys safe?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:14PM

Thain did say to expect thousands of cuts. NY Dept of Budget expects 40,000 layoffs on Wall St.
http://www.wallity.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2372036%3ABlogPost%3A419

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:14PM

Kind of surprised they are cutting Europe and Asia - BofA has no traction there.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:15PM

#12: this is from their Web site - already excludes the FAs (or so I read it)

Employees 2005 2006 2007 2008
Full-Time:
U.S. 43,200 43,700 48,700 45,400
Non-U.S. 11,400 12,500 15,500 15,500
Total(5) 54,600 56,200(7) 64,200(6) 60,900(6)
Non-U.S.Employees 21% 22% 24% 25%
Private Client
Financial Advisors 15,160 15,880 16,740 16,850

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:15PM

is current downturn worse than 2001-2003? There were many layoff then too?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:18PM

@13, I wouldn't worry. Your friends are safe. If they are doing nothing right now I'm sure that means work will pick up soon. It is the people with a full work load that have to be terrified right now.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:19PM

Apparently the bank is currently (as in today) canning employees from "all business groups," with twelve weeks pay for severance.
http://www.wallity.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2372036%3ABlogPost%3A419
Going to get uglier.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:20PM

@17....This is much worse than 2001-2003, but I think prior to 2001 they had a much larger increase in employment than the run-up to today fiasco. So they're will be huge lay-offs, but may not be as bad as prior.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:20PM

merrill just cut "500 traders"-- Bloomberg (TV)

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:21PM

@17....This is much worse than 2001-2003, but I think prior to 2001 they had a much larger increase in employment than the run-up to today fiasco. So they're will be huge lay-offs, but may not be as bad as prior.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:22PM

@18 - thanks for the laugh.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:30PM

This is real bad. Thain is running around with his samurai sword chopping people off at the knees. Although these houses do tend to overhire and therefore there is a ton of overlap

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:31PM

and then they also tend to over-fire also

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:35PM

Are the 12 weeks flat to what first year analysts received in last year's layoffs?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:36PM

2008 number: bonus for fiscal year 2008 to be paid out in early 2009.

Expect 60 to 100% cut IF you survive the layoff

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:37PM

How do these layoffs work? Do managers bring those affected into office and tell them in person? Do the affected workers have two weeks to wrap up and leave?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:42PM

@29...you can let us know when it happens to you

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:43PM

No 29, they bring you in and then kick your arse out into the street immediately. Game over

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:47PM

@29...pink slip in your locker a la Willy Mays Hayes and Wild Thing in Major League

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:48PM

Just the creative destruction of capitalism working as it should. Keeps the economy healthy.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:49PM

@29:

MGR: I need to see you in the conference room.

PEON: Be right there.

*enters conference room filled with HR personnel*

HR: Sorry but, you're fired. Turn over your badge (ID card) and gun (blackberry). Your severance is blah, blah blah.

HR: There's the door. Security will see you out now. You can pick up your box of personal stuff at the security desk tomorrow morning.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:50PM

Your boss introduces you to a person from HR, and then your boss tells you your services are no longer required. Your boss leaves the room and you talk with HR. Shortly after the meeting you are expected to leave. Your computer access is turned off.

12 weeks is the usually minimum package. They usually give more for longer service. Three years for each year of service is the formula, unless they changed it.

You can claim unemployment from day 1, as you are.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:50PM

When it's your turn to go you get called into an office and escorted out by security. Time to save your spreadsheets and customer lists to google docs. You may be next.

When they can an entire group they call a meeting in a conference room and tell you you're fired all at once.

You can pick up the contents of your desk in the lobby sometime the next day.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:51PM

My experience getting canned from ML was from '02. They call you to a conference room. HR person sitting there with your MD. MD was white as a sheet, looked like he has a gun held to his head.

They put papers in front of you to sign (promising not to sue) in exchange for whatever severance they offer. No signature = no severance. Take it or leave it.

Then I was walked to the door. My coworker had the unpleasant job of packing up my stuff to ship to my home.

The MD and coworker got canned in the next round, about a month later. MD was young guy and had a developmentally disabled daughter, I felt really bad about it.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:53PM

FUCK THIS IS BULLSHIT. I COME FROM CHEVY'S with some lunch and my fucking boss pulls me into his room.

GOD DAMN IT!!!!!!!!! I THOUGH WE WERE BETTER THAN THIS. FUCKING THAINS fault!!!

-liang man

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:54PM

Bess - I just got the axe. Let's have lunch. You buy.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:56PM

Jesus - they won't even let you get back to your desk to pick up things?

I suppose all that pay comes at a price.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:57PM

Look, a lot of you people don't get it. BofA bought MER primarily for the "Thundering Herd". Fits in completely with retail/consumer strategy. So, they won't mess with the brokers...yet. Right now, they need SYNERGIES. Where do you get that? in the almost complete overlap (redundancy) between BAC and MER I-banks. Ken L. likes, in order 1) retail, 2) asset mgmt, 3) credit cards, 4) commercial banking, 5) I-banking. He looks at I-banking largely as a necessary evil, thinks I-bankers get paid too much and are too management intensive (ATMs don't talk back remember). So, get ready for Hurricane Thain. Have what you want to keep packed up, buy a blackberry curve tonight and download your contact list. I'm serious.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:58PM

It's not "down sizing"....it's "right sizing"....

~Employed HR Guy

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 4:58PM

Why are you people so surprised about this? Investment Banks' lifeblood is human capital. Thus, a lot of business = a lot of people; no business = fire people. It is probably the most cyclical business there is. So yes, there is going to be a shitload of people fired. My advice to recently minted MBA's is to reconsider that offer from the consulting firm.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:02PM

I got my slip the day ML traded at a record high... It was all down hill for the Bull from there!

When ML bought Wave Securities they started pitching 1/3 of a cent per share to all equity accounts - big thinkers.

The cash equity business is dead.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:06PM

which groups at merrill got canned?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:06PM

How many layoffs you ask? Here's some simple math.

Kenny-boy said last night that he needs 8B in cost savings.

Liberally figure an average bonus of 200K, average salary of 100K and another 100K to cover benefits BB terminal fees etc. At $400K per employee head you're looking at 20K in layoffs.

Hopefully, that is an upper bound and he finds non-labor resource to squeeze out some cost savings. My guess for total layoffs would be 15K to 20K, some of which will come from the BofA side as well.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:11PM

What BofA does best is post-acquisition integration. No sentimentality, nobody is safe, very cold-blooded. If they need $7B in synergies, they will get there by the end of January, guaranteed. They will blow a ton of people out of there this quarter, and when they announce 4Q earnings they will say they are on track with integration, and oh, by the way, cutting xx,0000 more bodies (right before bonuses, by the way). The research analysts will cheer, the stock will pop a bit and off they go.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:13PM

#44 - bloodletting in consulting is only about to begin
Guys on campuses are desperate...

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:20PM

is anyone hiring on campus in business schools?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:24PM

What about exit interviews? The Perky People Planning Picnics in HR have to have some exit interviews or else they are next.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:26PM

How much per week is unemployment?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:30PM

if I survive this round does that mean more bonus for me since fewer people left?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:32PM

@53

If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:33PM

48 - Yeah I agree, BofA is ruthless. Last year-end they fired a bunch of traders & analysts right before bonuses were to be paid. They were given no severance and no pro-rata bonus, nothing. Some people were 15-year employees.

If I was still working at ML (thank god I'm not) I wouldn't be planning on any severance at all. You're going to be on your own.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:33PM

@ 54

Yes there will be less people to split the bonus pool of $0 with.

Job well done!

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:33PM

@54 I like where your head is at.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:46PM

They fire the front line but HR folks survive. HR is a made up job.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:51PM

@45

Cash Equities is dead? I work for a middle market Ibank and I cant even breathe most days. Swamped trading cash equities and making great money.

This is an evolutionary shift. Gone are the old "White shoe" Ibanks..there are plenty of others ready to move up the league tables.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 5:53PM

@54 you're a genius!

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 6:05PM

Unemployment benenfits in NYC are just over $400 a week and it lasts for 6 months. The interent has made this process very user friendly. You need to show up in person to get it started, but once going you can do everything online.

You get taxed on the money, but it helps cover the rent. If you have been working for a few years you have supported this fund so you might as well help yourself.

Welfare Mother Merrill changed. In fact, everything is changing. As Dave Bowie would say, cha cha cha changes.......

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 6:16PM

Let's set the record straight:

Unemployment in ny - $405 a week pre-tax; congress extended benefits beyond 26 weeks.

BofA layoffs last year:
1st round 20% of prior year's bonus, plus severance (nov);
2nd round 10% of prior year's bonus plus severance (jan);
3rd round (june) - thanks for playing, severance only

Severance = 2 weeks per year of employment, min 10 weeks...

2nd round got BofA$$raped - let go a day before bonuses were announced.

The stock is still down over 50%...

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 6:22PM

Bank of Arse

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 6:23PM

Anyone have any idea if ML derivatives folks have been cut?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 6:28PM

$405 a week won't pay the bar tab.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 7:07PM

@49- can't agree more... i'm at a consulting firm and you can tell- our bench keeps growing bigger and bigger.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 7:28PM

ABA says there are no jobs for law students and they should have a "back up plan".

http://endofesq.com/?p=371

no jobs for mbas or lawyers--its back to basics like farming and making things.

or else get a job like a long island railroad conductor.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 7:29PM

@ 60

Good for you, sounds like you are at the right shop at the right time.

Make hay while the sun is shining... trust me, it won't last!

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 7:39PM

65. yes I was cut today and my area had nothing to do with CDO's or mortgages but was a dept that was reported to be up 20% this year in Q3 earnings.

Was a big producer but obviously did not play politics enought with my former boss who has such a questionable past it's amazing he got past merrill HR last year, and is involved in this decision process. Certain cuts of hard working productive employess today had nothing to do with the "we are looking forward"- hr quote of the day, but all about how can I save my ass another day around here.

Meanwhile certain useless deadwood employees who produce nothing and also get paid nothing are sitting pretty today, er well until BofA see's their production or until enough of us claim discrimination.

Montag is such a disappointment for $90mm for 4 months worth of work. This is his legacy?

Hard working employees suffering from Dow Kim and Stan O'Neils collateral damage hand their bonus to Montag's bean counters and are out of a job!

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 7:43PM

70 - did you manage to save up any money while time was good?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 7:51PM

@71

Unfortunately not so much.. Wife just had our 2nd kid a year ago and I had just upgraded to a 3BR apt at Battery Park City. The way the market collapsed caught me unexpectedly. I expected another several good years and would love to have retired then.

Most of my networth was tied into the company stock... I went from having a 7 digit net worth to just about nothing after having to come up with some money to pay our mortgage and the family cars.

People make mistakes, and I am owning up to it. If I could have done it differently, I would have just saved up all my bonuses from the good times (high six figure-low 7s) and put them into safe heaven investments. No more of this 401k stuff, we completely messed up the entire US as a nation advocating 401k's as a proper way for a person to retire and feel good about their future.

MER is dead meat and so are all the high flying big shots that used to/still work there(not much longer though!)

Anyways enough of my rant. Just want to say I have 2 kids to support and I am not sure how I will be able to take care of them. The wife's Channel bags need to go,she got used to living the good life with me so I pray to G-D that she will not leave me.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 7:52PM

of course as much as one can when restricted shares on a 4 year vesting schedule made up 60% of VICP, and the 40% cash was taxed as full payroll. A job is a job right? Atleast if remained employed your new employer could convert your shares to the new company. Those dumped today are being cashed out of shares at the lows for a lump sum less taxes. This a real killer. Would have been nice if they let us keep the shares.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 8:02PM

Wonder if HR would give those of us sacked today the same insurance policy they bought for Montag, so that Montag can be paid out his $90mm regardless of the fact the only way this "goldman trading guru" could produce numbers was to cut the very people enabling his bonus pool to grow larger.

What a joke of a company! Pay Stan a parachute fit for a criminal. Hire some ex-Goldman trading guru who really did not want to come back into the markets, and pay him upfront with an insurance policy for ZERO trading production!

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 8:07PM

71 - I am an average joe making 60k a year so I cannot quite say I feel bad for you, but I had no idea fortune can turn so quickly for someone in your position. I sincerely hope things work out for you and this experience helps you deal with inevitable ups and downs that come in life.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 8:10PM

Remember the old rock song "Get Ready"...Cuz here it comes.

Well Get ready for 2009. NBC and CBS announced cut backs of several hundred million dollars from their 2009 budgets
because of an "expected recession and drop in revenue."

The dominos are starting to fall. Look out.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 8:12PM

how many people were cut today?

500 traders to be cut. Out of how many?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 8:14PM

will 2009 be worse than 2008? Bonus?

i am totally screwed.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 8:23PM

I voluntarily left MER back in 2002 (saved myself the embarrassment of an inevitable firing) when the last round of cost-savings was in. They were still dicks about it. But I was a second-gen MER employee and I am sad to see a once great firm go down like this. I hope my buddies in retail don't get caught up in this. Good luck to anyone who just did their job and got screwed by E. Stanley.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 8:54PM

stan had his own private elevator @ ML hq, what a dick

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 9:01PM

O"Reilly's reporter followed him with a camera, what a pompous ass.

Quoted the enormous amount of money he made adn asked if he had anything to say ot the shareholders, the world?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 9:11PM

@70
If you are worried she is going to leave you because you no longer can ball then isn't it better to lose the bitch while your net worth is zero. As opposed to catching her fing the doorman.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 9:11PM

@70
If you are worried she is going to leave you because you no longer can ball then isn't it better to lose the bitch while your net worth is zero. As opposed to catching her fing the doorman.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 9:27PM

@ 72

In Battery Park City, three- or four-bedroom units can snag from $2.5 to $4 million.

YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL BAD IF THAT'S TRUE.

http://ny.therealdeal.com/articles/inside-the-open-houses-of-battery-park-city

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 9:28PM

@ 72

In Battery Park City, three- or four-bedroom units can snag from $2.5 to $4 million.

YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL BAD IF THAT'S TRUE.

http://ny.therealdeal.com/articles/inside-the-open-houses-of-battery-park-city

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 9:28PM

@ 72

In Battery Park City, three- or four-bedroom units can snag from $2.5 to $4 million.

YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL BAD IF THAT'S TRUE.

http://ny.therealdeal.com/articles/inside-the-open-houses-of-battery-park-city

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 9:29PM

@ 72

In Battery Park City, three- or four-bedroom units can snag from $2.5 to $4 million.

YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL BAD IF THAT'S TRUE.

http://ny.therealdeal.com/articles/inside-the-open-houses-of-battery-park-city

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 9:29PM

@ 72

In Battery Park City, three- or four-bedroom units can snag from $2.5 to $4 million.

YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL BAD IF THAT'S TRUE.

http://ny.therealdeal.com/articles/inside-the-open-houses-of-battery-park-city

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 9:34PM

Yea but he just bought it so he's probably underwater after closing costs.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 9:39PM

@70: What kind of an idiot lives in Lower Manhattan and buys a car (let alone carS) anyway?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 9:52PM

anyone know if there are more layoffs left for the remainder of the week?

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 9:54PM

I work at WFC, and the winters are fucking brutal. For rizzal, 10 degrees colder than midtown. The poor bastard probably has to drive to Gristedes (likely 2 blocks away) just to block the wind. My condolences, friend.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 9:57PM

sounds more like a first year analyst pretending.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 9:58PM

damn it feels good to be a lawyer...

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 10:01PM

MER laid off some decent PNL contributors in some departments where big overlaps b/t BAC and MER.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 10:06PM

@95,

Just wait until you're passed for partner/special counsel, and released for "non-performance reasons." Eat while the eating's good, and focus on how to become a JRD coordinator. 160 is it, baby.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 10:10PM

here are some things you can do:

pretzel man

ups christmas help

copy guy

sandwich board wearer in front of furniture store

discount brokerage broker

obama camoaign worker

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 10:10PM

here are some things you can do:

pretzel man

ups christmas help

copy guy

sandwich board wearer in front of furniture store

discount brokerage broker

obama campaign worker

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 10:20PM

@ 94 I agree. A person who buys a completely reasonable 3BR in a moderately priced area in NYC would have had plenty of safe haven (or "heaven" as he call it) money. Sounds like a joke.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 10:42PM

Dick Fuld and Joe Gregory used to hold meetings at LEH during bonus time where they would tell people not to sell their shares and brag about how many shares they held.

Joe sold shares, once, during his divorce back around '00 (the infamous "liquidity event" ). The firm culture was never, ever sell. LEH would arrange for your restricted stock to be used as evidence of ability to repay a mortgage, etc... Maybe MER was the same. The crash of MER, BSC, LEH, MS won't be felt until Jan/Feb '09. What you hear from #70 is the kind of thing you're going to hear more and more.

Posted by guest , Oct 20, 2008 11:08PM

102 is dead on. You should see the stuff that people were able to get with their stock as quasi-collateral.

New York is going to be fucking depressing this winter.

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 12:24AM

fixed income got destroyed today...
i was one of them - johnnys will never be the same again. stay strong!

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 12:28AM

Gosh. We havent heard anything big in asia so far.

Are you sure Derivatives and FI are also involved. Please come out clean

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 12:50AM

@103, not only was 102 dead on, but the rest of @70's story runs true to the whole IB Manhattan game.

This place was utopia on heroin for the IB set from 2003-2007- it was wild, wild, wild stuff. I saw guys taking home $850k per year before tax who literally couldn't hold down a shift at Denny's. And the whole damn thing was in blast off, from the $1k bottle service joints (ahem PM, Pink Ele, etc.) to the ridiculous price for damn near any service, go ahead and hit up a decent personal trainer now and check that deflation peeps.

Well its over, we can look forward to the Fitzgerald of our era to give testimony to this guilded age just passed. So many "deluded" rich people got smoked in this orgy ala company stock, easy credit, and asset spec'ing via Murakami bs poser art to Hamptons summer houses for the 'gee ain't i rich' crowd. Sad, sad, sad, the rest of America will look on at this behavior and laugh at the folly and hubris- you had a once in a lifetime opprotunity to save and cash out and instead you ramped your expenses just like you knew not to do, and now you, they a might collective we, are all FUCKED!

ahhh, so goes it, its 'merica after all, there's always Branson, MO.

izzo

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 12:58AM

@97, 98: There will a nice down-payment in the bank and an in-house job waiting if I get passed over for partner.

My firm is booming, my practice group continues to have record years.

I picked carefully in law school. I'll pass on 72's wife though.

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 1:11AM

@53/62/63/66/72 and others... Sorry to chime in late, but was away from the pc today.

Unfortunately, I have first hand experience on this unemployment gig ... I repackaged myself from financial services to a law firm and ended up getting cut anyway and just marked my year anniversary. To say it is tough out there is an understatement.

First things first. Unemployment is a measly $405/week for 26 weeks and you only have to make about $50K to qualify for that max. (FYI, this amount has not been adjusted for CPI or anything else for at least the past 10 yrs if not more).

The extension you referenced is not automatic and was given to people that qualified when the govt passed the first stimulus package back in June. The additional 13 wks just ended (NY did not qualify for an addl 26 as some other states did, however, no decision has been made (yet) as to whether there will be a 2nd extension). So if you are first applying, assume 26 weeks for now. The previous extension will likely not apply.

As for what that $1620/month will buy, let's just say I hope that you have been saving some of your money. I was making a modest income --- low six figures and thankfully, I was saving towards an apartment so I had reserves ... though I never expected to be living off of them for a year and cannot continue to do so indefinitely.

While I am fortunate to have a below market rental, $1620 does not cover the rent. Tack on your regular living expenses, COBRA payments,(and you will likely want/need a blackberry)and you will understand that life as you knew it is about to change in a MAJOR way.

Here's the deal with the job market. There ARE jobs out there, however, there are so many people out of work the competition is insane. (I've heard a statistic that there are 3 extremely qualified applicants for every 1 job). And worse, you can have several intense interviews for a job only to have your hopes dashed in a hiring freeze. That is happening with greater frequency.

People will also encourage you to look outside the industry -- which I would advise as well, though much easier said than done. I did (law) and ended up losing my job anyway. And when you are lucky to get your foot in the door of a company outside the industry, you will find yourself competing against people with years of experience in that industry. In this economy, people are looking to limit their risk ... so not having 8-10 years in pharma, consumer goods, telecomm, etc. doesn't exactly work in your favor. You may as well be an 08 grad.

Temping is a great option --- if you can find an opportunity. Trouble is, many companies are shunning such expenses as well.

In short, it is pretty grim out there and I don't wish this on anyone. It is an absolute living hell ... and fortunately, I am not supporting a family and had the sense not to live beyond my means when I was working, so I have no debt. So in a lot of ways, I guess I'm lucky, but I cannot go on without an income indefinitely.

Do everything you can to hold onto your job even if you hate it and put away as much money as you possibly can. Start cutting your expenses now. If you do get axed, pressure your company for as many extended benefits as you can --- I made mine pay my Cobra payments for a few months since they wouldn't budge on severance. Be creative.

I hope this will help someone ... I'm sorry I don't have more uplifting news ... but this crap is not new and there are a lot of us that have been suffering for quite some time before it became so mainstream.

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 2:21AM

#108. I'm sorry.

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 3:08AM

It seems to be a freak show out there. I'm located in Asia and live with someone in M&A in an IB. His firm is slashing people quarterly (not in his area but in IB generally). He says everyone at his firm is practically flipping out...so much uncertainty, so much politics and so many people trying to justify their existance....
Although it seems that US and Europe have been hit the most ...

I'm at a commercial bank (which i guess is a joke to many of you !) but everyone is smuggly sitting pretty thinking life is sweet...clearly most of my colleagues are totally deluded and think they are immume to this crisis.

If I bankers have no chance on the street, what chance will the rest of the banking world have when they are inevitably cut too !!

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 4:05AM

there are so many excesses in all departments of an IB.

I am sure a 50% staff reduction can be managed without as much reduction in the revenues/profits.

Look at IT. People sit and await emails (Support staff) and have a good time. The Indian IT companies are earning a hell a lot of money out of these IBs

GS - Infy
MS,JPM,BoFA - TCS

ABN - TCS
RBS -Infy

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 4:08AM

there are so many excesses in all departments of an IB.

I am sure a 50% staff reduction can be managed without as much reduction in the revenues/profits.

Look at IT. People sit and await emails (Support staff) and have a good time. The Indian IT companies are earning a hell a lot of money out of these IBs

GS - Infy
MS,JPM,BoFA,ML - TCS

ABN - TCS
RBS -Infy

the western IT companies, gosh, they are toast big time.

Accenture has some insurance clients like UHS but others are generally gone.

Not even a single IT staff of TCS was fired from ML so far.

Trading desks are gone but the support staff just sit and read weird websites all day long.

Does ML have a contract or something that enables TCS to keep their employees until Dec 08 ?

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 7:07AM

@110

Ha! Bank teller! Go fuck yourself. You don't belong here.

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 7:32AM

I was a very strong PNL contributor with clients who told me they would without a doubt do more business with me at BofA, than the person in the BofA seat right now! Overlap there but clients would have set it straight if given a chance. Now they are pissed and hopefully wont deal at either ML or BofA after I got sacked.

Meanwhile, HR refuses to divulge the sleazy vetting process. Deadbeat managing directors who contributed less than I, still sit there this morning after 16 years of non-productivity and are protected by the "MD Club" at Merrill.

Culture clash coming, and I expect these curmudgeons at the screens will finally be shot if not a bit too late! They should have gone in the first round, not a hard working employee consistently ranked outstanding producer!

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 7:46AM

come on charlie gaperino, please expose the crime just perpetrated on hard working revenue producing employees, who got it straight up the a#$. Expose Montag for the fraud he is. Head of trading? For $90mm what has he done in the last few months that was trading related?

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 8:35AM

are we expecting more cuts today? Or is it done after yesterday?

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 9:28AM

to the idiot who said lower manhattan is like a ghosttown, what lower manhattan are you in? I haven't noticed a considerable amount of people not commuting here anymore. Not yet. Maybe because it's cold you don't see 32542325 douchebags standing outside smoking?

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 10:06AM

Long as MER's paycheck puts fuel in the Bentley I don't really give a shit what's going on around here, because there's nothing I can do about it anyways except continue coming to work. I saved plenty when times were good, and if the layoffs get to us, I'll live in the G*ddamn thing. It's roomier than my apt anyways.

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 10:21AM

FI is getting destroyed. Another round to come just before x-mas

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 11:10AM

20% in Global Markets - S&T getting cut this week. This is across all groups within FICC and Equities - rates hit very hard, CDO & CMBS teams cleaned out, prime brokerage trimmed. Cuts are across board - analyst to MD level.

And this is just round one...

Banking and research to follow in coming weeks

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 12:56PM

american express layoffs to come next week.

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 1:07PM

Gas Bag reporting at least 5,000 jobs to be cut at Merrill to start this week.

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 1:18PM

Gas Bag? a link por favor ...

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 1:20PM

Gas Bag? a link por favor ...

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 1:21PM

Gas Bag? a link por favor ...

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 1:29PM

@121 how do you know this? and any idea what banking and research cuts will look like? Need facts, we already have PLENTY of rumors..

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 1:34PM

why does CNBC report yesterday's 500 layoffs that everyone already knew about as "breaking news"?

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 1:35PM

Gas Bag? a link por favor ...

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 1:36PM

@129

30% cut

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 1:47PM

Source?

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 2:14PM

@39/70/104/114 and anyone else who got let go from mer this round - what is the severance package? im still at mer and was wondering how much i would get if i get cut this round....

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 2:15PM

@39/70/104/114 and anyone else who got let go from mer this round - what is the severance package? im still at mer and was wondering how much i would get if i get cut this round....

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 2:15PM

@39/70/104/114 and anyone else who got let go from mer this round - what is the severance package? im still at mer and was wondering how much i would get if i get cut this round....

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 2:17PM

@136- read the post. avg. 12 weeks pay.

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 2:46PM

Bloomberg reports MER cut can be 10,000

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 3:11PM

Merrill May Cut 10,000 Jobs in Merger, Bove Says (Update4)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ao_JxlLDS_ds&refer=home

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 3:59PM

whole thing is sad...MER was great firm

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 4:08PM

@137 - i know the avg is 12 weeks. last round, they had 12 weeks plus 3 weeks for every year you worked at mer (for those who worked at mer longer than 5). i was wondering if they had anything like that in addition to the 12 weeks this round

Posted by guest , Oct 21, 2008 7:19PM

@142 (mrp/mrpink) -- I've always enjoyed your postings here. Is there any way to get in touch with you? Thanks (from one of the people on the short end of that stick)

Posted by guest , Oct 22, 2008 12:07AM

sucks...but it happens. live through it, it'll get even worse.

http://www.weeklyta.blogspot.com

Posted by guest , Oct 22, 2008 1:13AM

@121: sounds about right concerning CMBS and CDOs. BAC completely gutted the ABS CDO teams last year. All the assets went to one structured finance group and not a single person in the bank can trade a CDO anymore. It wouldn't surprise me they do the same to MER.

Posted by guest , Oct 22, 2008 7:35PM

@49/67 I heard about lay-offs at Deloitte yesterday through friends. This is just the start of one large ripple effect.

Posted by guest , Oct 23, 2008 9:40AM

Tech and IT is the future! Changing the world everywhere. Look at the number of IT jobs available even on wall street inspitr of all this mess

Posted by guest , Oct 23, 2008 5:52PM

I got out of IBD at a BB in August (industry group). I thought it was bad then, REALLY bad. People getting cut left right and center - not so much in industry groups but colleagues in M&A, equity, debt groups...

But it has gotten EVEN WORSE. Ripple effect everyone is referring to is truly happening.

I moved out to Silicon Valley, which up until TWO WEEKS AGO was UNSCATHED (outside of a small cut at Yahoo but primarily for internal problems).

Just two weeks ago all of the startups, pushed by their VC's, started to cut 10-0% (40%!!!)

Also, Yahoo announced another 10% (1500 total), Ebay not too long ago announced a huge cut, wouldn't be surprised if GOOG AAPL are next...

Posted by guest , Oct 24, 2008 2:05PM

All of you stop the fucking wining and go work at McDonalds

Posted by guest , Oct 24, 2008 2:11PM

All of you stop the fucking wining and go work at McDonalds

Posted by guest , Oct 24, 2008 2:11PM

All of you stop the fucking wining and go work at McDonalds

Posted by guest , Oct 24, 2008 2:14PM

All of you stop the fucking wining and go work at McDonalds

Posted by guest , Oct 27, 2008 1:58PM

Any word on possible cuts to BofA's investment bank?

Posted by guest , Oct 29, 2008 6:46PM

Yea it's crazy what is happening. Even the good IB guys at Merrill are getting cut while the bad ones remain. Healthcare IB head Jim Forbes is planning to can his top talent and keep the 9-5er girls he's fucking. Even in bad times this happens!