I've been in finance for 12 years. Good money, terrible hours. Two kids (6 and 3). Wife works part-time as a nurse. Been thinking about pivoting to something that lets me actually be present - teaching, tech support, something less demanding. But leaving means: starting over, lower pay, benefits questions. Am I crazy? Any of you made major career pivots and lived to tell the tale?
Teaching might actually be worse for work-life balance tbh. Grading, prep work, you'd still be stressed just in a different way. Have you looked at tech support or IT? Way more flexible, similar pay to what you might take, and easier transition from finance.
I did something similar 5 years ago. Left consulting, took a contract role in tech that pays okay but has actual boundaries. Best decision I made. But I also had savings and a spouse with stable income. Do you have a runway?
Don't sleep on the benefits question. Insurance, retirement, HSA stuff - that's real money that doesn't show up in your paycheck. I took a 'lower pay' job and didn't factor that in and it was like taking a 30% cut.
This is huge. Finance hours with young kids is brutal. But leaving a 12-year career is terrifying for a reason - have you actually calculated what 'lower pay' means for your family? Like is your wife's nursing income enough to cover if you took a 50% pay cut?
The 'starting over' feeling is real but also... you have 12 years of experience being organized, managing complexity, handling pressure. That translates literally everywhere. You're not actually starting from zero even if the job title is new.
Sign in to join the conversation.
Before you jump, maybe try a lateral move in finance? Like moving to the public sector or a non-profit that does finance work? Same skill set, usually WAY better hours. Less dramatic than a complete pivot.