[firebug]

I spent nearly 8 years in a brokerage, including some time as a ER associate...

Morning call is at 5:30 am, if you are lucky you might be able to take it from home and then come to the office later. Drinks and dinner are at 4 - 6pm but you'll probably have to head back to the office for an hour or two afterwards.

Unless of course its earnings week (really two weeks) 4 times a year, or there has been a press release in your universe, or one of your names is raising some money and you need to be out on a marketing trip, or your analyst is a prick and wants to slough off some work on you.

Compensation...
Associates: Base between 75 - 110k depending on experience plus variable comp between 0 and 200% of pay (figure 25% to 75%).
Analysts: Base between 120 - 250k plus variable comp between 50 and 400% of base.

Lots of perks with both roles... travel, expense accounts, memberships (plus you are in front of most of the management teams of companies you are covering).

Everyone is good friends until it's time to divvy up the bonus pool...