LA Banker Commits Suicide

A tragic event has gone largely unreported: the death by suicide of Ben Lee on April 26, an investment banking analyst at Intrepid’s Los Angeles office. Online searches return no official statements, only a broken link to Ben Lee's profile on the company website.

We won’t speculate on personal circumstances, but the broader conditions facing junior investment bankers remain a critical issue across the industry.

According to multiple reports Intrepid LA reportedly has some of the harshest working conditions on Wall Street. According to a recent WSO thread (posted on May 18, 2025), Ben had only joined the firm on February 21, 2025, as a lateral hire.

In the weeks leading up to his death, he was reportedly working past 2 a.m. most nights, staffed on a high-pressure pitch and under intense scrutiny from senior bankers. Analysts confirmed that he worked over 100 hours the week of his passing.

Insiders describe Intrepid as a “sweatshop.” With around 12 analysts supporting an office of 100, workloads are said to have surged dramatically after the firm missed its budget last year. No new headcount was added, and junior staff were left to manage the fallout.

Employees cited an overwhelming volume of manual, repetitive work that could be automated, as well as outdated systems (such as a legacy CRM) that compound inefficiencies and burnout. Management reportedly declined to invest in updated tools or additional support, despite internal concerns.

The situation had escalated to the point that analysts had scheduled a meeting with the CEO the day before news of Ben’s death surfaced. They planned to raise concerns about unsustainable hours, lack of professional development, and the increasingly untenable demands placed on junior staff.

Yet, just hours after his passing became known internally, Intrepid removed Ben’s profile from its website. The firm has made no public acknowledgment of his death. While we won’t speculate on that decision, silence (even when well-intentioned) can prevent the conversations that lead to real change.

This tragedy is not an isolated incident. In the past year alone, at least three banker deaths have drawn renewed scrutiny to the culture of overwork in finance. While some firms have taken steps to address burnout and mental health, far more must be done to ensure that junior professionals are not pushed to a breaking point.

We share this story to honor Ben’s memory and to raise awareness about the urgent need for meaningful reform in how the industry supports its junior talent.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. The National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7 at 988.

If you want to share your experience or speak up about working conditions at your firm, you can do so anonymously here.

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