Making millions in Wall Street is for some young highly skilled professionals the best chance they have to help save the world. They have made their life choices and their career choice is one that gives them the capability to help the most number of people. These wall street professionals believe that earning six figures, living modestly, and donating to charity allow them to do the most good to their fellowmen.
Some of the beneficiaries of these young idealists are 8,000 Hours and GiveWell and other charities, which are all implementing programs designed to assist developing nations.
Jason wants to help save the world
Jason Trigg graduated with top honors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a degree in computer science. His education gives him a sure ticket to any work that he prefers. He chose a job at Wall Street writing software that makes him and the firm a lot of money. He works for a high frequency trading company as a software designer and earns a six-figure income. Trigg is well-placed indeed and his earning potential will only increase in time.
Jason Trigg is where he wants to be but he is earning as much as he can not to acquire designer clothes, luxury houses, and expensive cars. He may be earning a ridiculous amount of cash, but he walks to work and lives with three roommates. He’s okay with it and says that he would not know how to spend a large amount of money. Jason Trigg wants to help save the world and the more money he makes, the more he can give away.
A team of givers
In 2012, Jason Trigg gave tens of thousands – half his salary, to Against Malaria Foundation. According to this foundation, considered by many as one of the most effective charities in the world today, $2,500 is enough to save one life. Trigg has already made the calculations. Rather than enter public service, he’d just maintain a career in finance. In this way, he could help more and save a lot of lives. Trigg and others are giving Wall Street, seen by many as the haven of the morally bankrupt, a new image.
Jason is just one of many other young professionals who have a similar point of view. Princeton graduate Matt Wade who is in finance is donating half his earnings to charities benefiting Asia and Africa. Elsewhere, roboticist Robbie Schade works for Google and gives 25% of his salary to charity. Google programmer Jeff Kaufman and his wife give away 45% of their income. Trigg and other young American and British professionals working in finance often say that their way of thinking has been influenced by Peter Singer.
The modern animal liberation movement
Peter Singer is the founder of the modern animal liberation movement. Singer is well known for his thought experiment/parable where he illustrates that giving away most of your money is morally obligatory aside from being admirable. One of the most popular treatise in modern ethics is his paper entitled “Famine, Affluence, and Morality” that was written in 1972.
Photo Credit: Bankers Trust Building, 14 Wall Street
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Google+
LinkedIn
Email