A few details from yesterday's big day.
"Federation total comp up anywhere from 8 to 20 percent (with those graded at the bottom-- you know that 5% we allegedly can every year-- probably getting zero increase). People are happy compared to what we know about competitors but not happy overall. E.g., I was 40% down from 2009 through 2011, so 19% up still leaves me net backwards."
Bonuses paid in '08 that were of the look-but-don't-touch variety were turned into real live ones that you can buy things with last year. Two billion dollars worth of live ones.
Apparently bonus numbers anywhere in the ballpark of Citi's are enough to make a junior banker wonder about options elsewhere.
If you're unhappy about your bonus this year, perhaps it'll make you feel less alone to know Lloyd Blankfein's dropped, too. (To $23 million.)