Earning More Forum

The yearning for a better life

Hi, Everyone Life is full of adventures, and we are currently living in a complex reality driven by the ceaseless advancement of AI technology. Having grasped the current trends, I have set higher goals despite my decent current income, and I have explored various ways to achieve them. I have come here to seek opportunities to collaborate with like-minded and courageous individuals among you. How can one even talk about making a living without an income? As a software Engineer, I’m looking for a...

john_brown

1 month ago 2 Share

Considering Going for CFP

Hi All! I am considering a year-long process of doing the coursework and studying for my CFP (certified financial planner) status. Since I work for a university, there's hope that my tuition benefit might cover the cost as the CFP course is offered through our online learning school. The CFP content strongly relates to my role within the university but also gives me work flexibility in case of layoffs or life changes. I would not be leaving my current role to be a full-time CFP, my job is very m...

Kendall Kunelius 137 XP

1 month ago 4 Share

Suggestions on post Career Part time jobs w Benefits

My husband and I are starting to think about transitioning from our ft careers to less stressful, leave it and forget it, PT/partially PT work now that we're FI. We're still fairly young, mid 40-50, home is paid off and thankfully we live in a low COLA area so we are only needing to cover living expenses and then keep up with our travel. One caveat is that one of us needs to qualify for benefits as we do need health insurance, I suffer from migraines. I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions or b...

etravels16 540 XP

2 months ago 4 Share

Remote, flexible side hustle???

Hi, friends, I’m new to the FI community, working to pay down debt and accelerate my family toward FI. I’m a SAHM and homeschooler and would like to stay that while building some part-time, remote, flexible income. I have a civil engineering degree but have never worked in the field. I have taught and tutored math, but my kids are not at an age where they can be consistently quiet while I tutor during the day. I have been tutoring after they go to bed, but there’s not a lot of time there. I’m hu...

Stephanie Sipes 178 XP

3 months ago 18 Share

Side Hustles: Starting a Travel Agency

Good morning all, I have been thinking lately about starting some sort of travel booking service. It's something I enjoy researching, and I think it is something that can easily be scaled as I become more experienced. Does anyone have any experience with starting something like this? I'd love to connect and understand all the proper channels to get something like this off the ground because I'm sure there are parts that I am grossly underestimating. Keo

Nocek 371 XP

3 months ago 2 Share

Burnout, Work-Life Balance, and Large Career Pivots ~

Curious if others have experienced a major career pivot after burnout. I went from practicing law into a business role where my law background is helpful, but not required. Escaping billable hours improved my work-life balance a lot, but mentally the shift has felt strange at times. I feel like most people follow a more “standard” career path, so taking a different route can create a weird sense of imposter syndrome — even when the change is positive. For example, feeling like law school and the...

FrugalReno 101 XP

4 months ago 22 Share

Self Publishing Input?

I’m working on self-publishing a short nonfiction book and would appreciate input from anyone here who has gone through the process. The premise: I graduated U.S. Army Ranger School a few years ago and kept detailed notes every single day during the course. I tracked food, sleep, weight loss, and wrote a daily journal about what was happening and how I was processing it. Over 62 days I averaged about 2.5 meals and 3.9 hours of sleep per day and lost over 30 pounds. Most Ranger School books are w...

Josh M. 562 XP

4 months ago 16 Share

Feeling lost, it's been a tough year

My day job is acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (herbal medicine, cupping, guasha, etc). I moved into this field after a decade as a full time professional musician, trying to make a better choice. Figured a medical field was a good bet, I was misled however on cost of attendance (rates went up 25% start to finish, and what they told me to expect for living expenses turned out wildly off, I ended up living in my van for 2.5 yrs of the program), expected income, and job prospects thoug...

dizzy 141 XP

4 months ago 13 Share

Transitioning from Engineering at Barista FI

To the financial planners/advisors out there, I have a (possibly dumb) question. I feel like I’ve reached “barista FI” and would really like to step away from my unfulfilling engineering job. I think I know what I’d like to do next, but I have no clue if it’s feasible, so I was hoping for some insight into the financial planning world. I'd prefer to be laughed at on a digital forum than in-person from a financial advisor... Here's my idea. I would work in the background for some fee-only advisor...

Anonymous

6 months ago 5 Share

Software development contracting?

Anyone here successfully transition from full time employee in software development to being an independent contractor? Curious if it's worth the effort. I'd worry a lot about liability risk and not being able to complete a project on time. I feel like you could easily get way in over your head. What's a good starting point? How did you do it?

newfi25 375 XP

6 months ago 2 Share

Business Buying

Hi All, Looking to connect with fellow business buyers - whether you have already purchased one or are just starting to get curious about it or anywhere in between. I bought my first business (a wine & liquor store) over twelve years ago and it has led me down a FI path.

Tim T. Delaney 137 XP

6 months ago 5 Share

Guidance for transitioning to CFP (from Army CPT)?

I’m an Army CPT planning to transition out in ~4 years (after transferring GI Bill benefits). I’ve grown pretty dissatisfied with my career path, and I’m exploring financial planning as a long-term career. Note, I'm in the brainstorming stage and am just looking at options. I enjoy personal finance, building plans, and teaching others, from the experience I've had. The end goal would be education-focused (workshops, classes, and/or hourly advice), and not AUM-driven. We’re currently at Coast FI...

Josh M. 562 XP

6 months ago 16 Share

Low pay less stress, higher pay, higher stress

I am stuck. Mid- 30s. I have a chance to work for a corporate company making the same salary I’ve been at for the last 3 years, with the chance to earn commissions and increase exponentially (in theory). OR I can take on a job paying $15k/ year less with no commission at all, but with (I highly suspect) less stress. Same job, but one is in the for profit sector, and one is nonprofit. I cannot stay where I’m at as the company has closed. This is the difference between $52k and $65k, so we’re not...

SamSalvino 75 XP

7 months ago 13 Share

Considering a shift into Cyber security

I have a background in Project/Program Management and Change Management. After going through two layoffs, I’m seriously considering pivoting into Cybersecurity. Realistically, this would mean going back to school, which could take around two years. I’m aware that AI is reshaping many roles, so I’m trying to be thoughtful about the long‑term outlook. I’m 47 and planning to retire in about 10 years. I can work part‑time while in school, and I have a 16‑year‑old at home, so flexibility matters. I’m...

Kiera Ojo 138 XP

7 months ago 9 Share

GLAM employed or other cultural heritage workers?

Hi! Curious if there are any others here who work in the cultural heritage sector or GLAM jobs (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums)? I feel like my career path is rare in this area of personal finance/FI-pursuing due to low wages + financial barriers to entering the fields. Few people enter these careers for the money/salary. (if you did, then I'd REALLY love to talk to you!) I stay because I care about the collections I work with–my life doesn't revolve around the work, but I value the...

kristinmac 106 XP

8 months ago 8 Share

Closing a Firm - Architecture/Landscape Architecture/Engineering

Hi All, I just wanted to reach out and see if anyone had any experience with closing a professional firm when retiring. I am a landscape architect with my own firm, one employee (myself). I am looking to retire in the next couple years. I am wondering how to close my business. I will finish my contracts, but with this type of firm just because I finish my design work, typically it will take a couple years for the project to be built. I am not selling my company to anyone, I am simply ending it....

amcookfl 75 XP

8 months ago 6 Share

Remote Worker Incentive Program

Just gonna leave this here for anyone interested…👀 They’re currently accepting applications. https://www.columbus2025.com/columbus-remote-program

tchance 129 XP

1 year ago 1 Share

My interview with Brad Barrett on how to apply FI ideas to leadership...

Hey, FI friends — I recently hosted Brad Barrett on my podcast, *Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World*, and wanted to share the episode with you all. We took a slightly different angle from the usual FI conversation — diving into what *Financial Independence* means for people working in education, nonprofits, and purpose-driven work. We hit on some powerful stuff: - “No margin, no mission” — the link between financial health and long-term impact - Building a life you don’t need to reti...

mryanm 59 XP

1 year ago 2 Share

First Step to Resume Building

Very few positions today are requiring a paper resume copy that is reviewed in person. Rather, AI is doing most of the work in reviewing our resume, at least to get us to the top of the pile and potentially landing an interview. I had an awesome job at my County's employment center and learned a lot that I can share here. Your first step and biggest gold nugget in going after a job is locating the: Job Description! Yep, you will actually need to build a resume for each job you're going for. Anno...

911onFire 211 XP

1 year ago 4 Share

How to find remote work in 2025?

My question for the FI community is how to find a remote job in 2025? I am currently on summer from college where I am studying nursing and I am looking for a remote job to supplement my partime summer job as well as to support me during the school year. I'm looking for suggestions of what companies to apply to, what roles to look into, and if there is any certifications I should consider to make myself an attrictive remote employee.

MegGleasner 120 XP

1 year ago 3 Share