Allright, since you all have been open and I'm a closemouthed gatherer of information, I figured I'd share where I'm coming from.
Right now, I'm a 32 year old CPA doing federal government consulting. Which is pretty much only applicable in the DC area where I live. Semi-non-transferrable. I finished my MBA in 2003. (the 911 was a grad gift to myself
)
I don't like what I'm doing as a fed gov't consultant. When it's busy it can be fun but honestly it's a lot of compliance and "make work" for the beltway banditos. It's unfulfiling for that same reason. Nobody wants to do it, I'm not helping anything, just doing the work the govt has to do but doesn't want to.
It pays well. Well, it pays OK.
I'm pretty certain that I would like to work for myself. No "performance reviews" and any bull**** work is my b/s work. Not generating junk just to keep my firm happy.
I have (almost) no experience like a typical CPA would with small biz clients. To get this experence I'd need a job with a CPA firm which would likely mean a pay cut that the family budget couldn't accomodate. A smaller CPA firm would likely take the risk with a quick learner who can do a variety of things - but you need to be billable. Since I haven't done a lot of small business work, I don't know how billable I could be. Anyway, I'll spare the discussion of how the industry works.
I don't really know what I would
love doing for myself. I have considered opening my own CPA firm - a one man operation. But, with little experience, it would be difficult to acheive a critical mass to replace my current income. Plus I'm concerned that the repetitive nature of the work would bore me to death after a while.
I have also considered going to law school. There is a good part time night program that takes 4 years. Assuming I could get accepted, I couldn't enroll until next fall (2007). When I'm done, I'd be 38 with no experience (unless I switch over to some law work partway through the program). Starting salaries for law firms (so I'm told) are pretty good, a little better than what I do now, (but I'd likely catch up if I stay where I am). Lawyers in general make more than CPAs and I think there is more variety to the work. I don't know if I'd enjoy it however and that's a lot of time and money to invest. But combined with my other degrees, I think I would be well suited to do a variety of things. A one-stop shop of financial and legal solutions, if you will.
I'm kind of confused as to what to do. I have my wife's full backing to go back to school even though we have a 1 year old and are planning on having another.
Any thoughts?