Ask HN: Have you transitioned from software to finance?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22857985

by zabana • 6 years ago

5 2 6 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

mattbgates• 6 years ago

Loaded question. Kidding. But one of my side projects invovles a financial piece. It's not technically a service or anything, but rather an informative guide on saving enough for retirement though I haven't finished it yet.

I've always been naturally good with money and I have a friend who is a financial advisor, so having never spoken to a financial advisor before, he did me a favor as a friend to show me that I was on track to retire a millionaire if I kept doing what I was doing. He said I basically had to adjust nothing because I was doing everything right. Never took a finance or business class. I just learned at an early age the difference between wants, needs, and a lavish yearly vacation or getting to travel around the world, which is far greater than any material you'll ever get.

The project is a guide to help people understand the differences of wants and needs, teaching about the stock market and investments, 401ks, working different jobs to make money, saving when you are youngest, when to invest, etc., all to prepare people for a decent retirement. We all define what our retirement will be like, yet many people are surprised when they either learn they do not have enough to retire or they must come to accept a certain lifestyle when there is no more income or they have to return back to work.

Anyways.. that's my "break-in". My friend almost convinced me to quit my job, leave my state, and move to where he lives to work for his company. Specualation that I probably could have doubled my salary, however, at the expense that I actually "make sales" or "open up accounts", as most financial businesses would come to expect. Fortunately, I didn't do that because I love my current job, even if it pays 2 times less, and a few months later, he informed me he left there and got a job working in life insurance. So I'm kind of glad I didn't just go on a whim. But his validation of my expertise certainly sparked me to want to help others, even if I am not in the field professionally.

fluroblue• 6 years ago

I quit my job a couple months ago after burning out and have been spending a while wondering what I should be doing.

As it stands currently, I got accepted for a masters in financial economics for a uni in aus. My city is way more focussed on finance and the pay and the types of software jobs here aren’t very exciting.

I’m still researching to make sure it’ll be a good decision though I’m still nervous about it.

Ask HN: Have you transitioned from software to finance?

Related Stories