Michael Ahrens

Unhealthy & Unethical - Antares Capital Zero work/life balance - expect to be working until the wee hours a regular basis. Your personal life and your health will most likely suffer. Do not expect to be appreciated for your extra effort. Unethical - senior management frequently talks about how they will be seeing rising profits by being able to do loans with a higher leverage, which the Fed deems risky and dangerous (think financial crisis). When Antares was a part of General Electric, they were regulated by the Fed because GE is a SIFI, just like any other big bank deemed systemically important to the health of the system, which prevented them from doing anything too risky. Now they are "free" from regulation - senior management is not shy about this and gloats often. Culture - Antares embodies the kind of culture that caused the crisis in the first place - the Fed has begun to realize this culture of greed and short-term gains as a key risk factor across wall street. Also, being white and male really helps in terms of survival there. Unprofessional conduct without consequences was a common occurrence. People - the sales team and senior management are treated like royalty, but that does not extend beyond that small group. There was no discussion around career development or opportunities - you are there to make them more money in the way they tell you, no more, no less. Mental/Physical Health - it was not uncommon to see people "losing it" or snapping. Avoid it if you can.