98% of financial advisors are salesmen.
This is what I'm scared of.
Given the PF knowledge I personally have, I'd have a hard time selling costly insurance products or convincing people that I should get 1% of their assets under management. My conscience just wouldn't allow it.
This. I worked in operations for a small financial advising firm. It hurt seeing their 12% commissions for private real estate deals. Expensive Annuities. 1% mutual fund fees (Probably some kick back, not sure). It would kill me to do that.
But. I loved the asset allocation. I guess being in a 1% fund is better than not being in the market at all? I am overall worried I'll be a salesman (not sure if I'll thrive in that setting.
Since your company has a financial planning division take one of those co workers to coffee and ask what the requirements are to get a job there.
This is a good idea. I'll message one of them to see if I can chat with them.
But guys... Fuck. This FIRE movement has pushed me through 4.5 years of my 5 year career in corporate finance (found MMM Jan 2015). I'm 3 years from FI (although It's lean, and I expect higher expenses once I find a wife and produce kids).
Age: 28
Salary: $101k (I'm overpaid, comparing numbers with classmates/previous coworkers/glassdoor/etc), MCOL
NW: $270k
Annual expenses: $20k
I've recently found Gary Vee on youtube. His lifestyle is so inspiring. I don't believe I will retire early. I'm a busy bee (which I believe most mustashians are). It's just who I am. part time school with full time work. Full time work with a side hustle/part time job.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ClbiB7_YYg"How you make your money is more important than how much you make"
I'm not overly stressed at my job. I should be happy. It's not very hard. But... I do feel like I am wasting my time. Satisfaction is low.
So yeah. I appreciate any help. My thoughts are:
1. Quit April 2020. My 1 year mark. 401k will let me contribute 90% of my salary, meaning I can max it quick. I can max my HSA by April, contribute my $6k in my roth, make a little over $12k that won't get taxed (standard deduction). I could even squeeze a semester of school paid by my company (no clawback period, $5k). Then take the rest of 2020 off to cool off, and find passion.
2. Financial Planning. I do have passion for personal finance (as I'm sure we all are). I am worried as hell about it being a salesman job.
3. Computer Science. I won't lie the salaries look good. I did enjoy writing VBA code to automate... Automating a 5 hour report into 5 seconds? It doesn't get better than that. Does small VBA coding (dynamic range, baby loops, small shit) convert into enjoying coding? Not sure. Is it worth walking down this path to find out? Maybe.
4. Suck it up. I think this is unlikely... But I can see the value of dragging it out 3 years to become FI. Trade 3 years for a lifetime of FI? Seems like a decent tradeoff.
Again. Any tips/advice is greatly appreciated.