Evaluating potential job move with significant salary reduction

[hustlerforlife]

I'm attempting to evaluate a potential move into a new job and would like some comments.

I have been working at my current growing tech firm almost 12 years in 6 different roles living in 3 countries. For the past 4 years I have been managing a small team who supports and implements our software product. I am only 1 of a very small number of people globally in our firm of 5,000 people that has what is known as an "expat package". I live in an expensive city and this expat package includes many benefits: very good expat health insurance, 1 business class flight home a year (up to 10k USD), 5k USD per month in housing allowance, global tax preparation (2-3k USD) and cost of living allowance in salary. The company recently indicated they would maintain this package until the end of 2017 if I remained in my current role but it was only mentioned verbally and there many changes underway internally to the organizational structure (so who knows if they would stay true to it). All in all the compensation package amounts to about $250,000 USD per year when all of the benefits and fixed yearly bonus are included. Tax rates in the country I live in are fairly low but the housing costs are very high so with the package I'm still able to save about $10k USD per month.

Recently an opportunity arose to potentially move into the sales organization in a pre-sales technical role to assist salespeople to explain our product offering to potential clients. My firm has a handful of products on offer and I've really only had exposure to a single product so this would allow me to broaden my skillset from a career perspective and get away from the day to day support of our clients. When I expressed my interest for transitioning into the new role it was met with a "we were initially looking to fill it with someone junior and we'd need to discuss you no longer being considered an expat" comment. No specifics have been given yet about how much of a haircut in salary I'd need to take. My net worth is about $500k USD (80% cash equivalents, yes I know, too much in cash) so I could live for a while even if I decide the new role isn't to my liking. Therefore, I'm trying to decide whether taking such a significant paycut (70-80k USD) would be worth it to gain exposure to the sales process, another 2 software products that are widely recognized in the industry and be under less stress day to day. This would mean I would no longer manage a team but that's not a huge deal to me compared to career progression. My longer term goal is to move into a purely sales role or start a business. The sales skills attained even in the pre-sales technically role should be transferable to entrepreneurship. I would move into a smaller apartment to save money if I moved into the new role.

Thoughts?

[FI-42]

I'm in a slightly similar situation but without much stash at the moment.  In your case, if you invest the cash, as long as it's growing and your not eating into your nest egg (i.e. you can cover your living expenses) then why not?

One of beauties of having a sizable 'stach invested in index funds is that you'll get FI eventually, it'll just take longer.  Congratulations, you're now at a point that you can choose what you want to do, rather than being a slave to income.

[ulrichw]

Given your goals - moving to a sales role/starting a business, this sounds like the right move to me.

Money is secondary, and despite this it sounds like you'd still be saving a considerable amount.

You're already 12 years into your career - if you're considering such a big career shift, I'd say the sooner the better. It sounds like you're currently single, not particularly tied down either at home or at work, so it's a good time to take a risk.

Obviously the exact terms of the deal would probably be a factor, but if it's like you say only a $70K-$80K cut, I'd say go for it.

[hustlerforlife]

thanks for the comments

[RobFIRE]

You're clearly in a position where money need not be a primary issue. So if I were you I would consider what timing/role best fits with your longer-term objectives.

The phrase "under less stress day to day" would also be key to me, no point earning the extra money if it's really hurting you to do it. From what you say about a smaller apartment it also suggests to me that you have the potential to reduce spending as well? So then you could take the new role to better suit your objectives, lower stress and still be saving nearly as much $ as currently?