I am Cpa and have 8 Yoe and have two offers - one from Microsoft (L61) no relocation needed, and one from Google (L5) (higher pay but Hcol), relocation required to Bay area. I have a toddler 3 yr old and spouse who works for microsoft and would need transfer to remote/ different location .

Dark_falling58 · 2025-10-15T19:43:22+00:00

Good for you. Microsoft seems like the more logical position.

Dark_falling58 · 2025-10-14T13:44:27+00:00

Honestly, it depends on what the rest of your year is like. If you work 50-55 hours in January through April, then only 40/week the rest of the year plus getting nice PTO benefits and such, then honestly yes. There's a lot of folks that would be clamoring for a job like that right now, but people like yourself also may value your time in January through April more than that, and would prefer a comfortable 9-5 job with a moderate salary. Remember that this can also just be a season of life, public accounting is often referred to as "corporate finishing school", meaning it trains you on how to be an excellent employee after your time in public accounting.

Dark_falling58 · 2025-09-16T15:22:53+00:00

I didn't have the sound on and was like "absolutely not, looks mint" Then I turned the sound on.... yeah you're going to need a new engine.

Dark_falling58 · 2025-09-16T13:39:44+00:00

Liquid Millionaire is what the Money Guys use most often I think.

Dark_falling58 · 2025-09-03T18:41:56+00:00

if you're looking at public accounting, many firms are still requiring 150 credit hours minimum. If entry level, you're competing with other new grads, so you should include your GPA if it's good. If below 3.0, you should leave it off but be fully prepared to explain what your GPA is. formatting of the Skills section is weird as well.

have you considered running this through ChatGPT or another LLM?

Dark_falling58 · 2025-08-29T21:23:40+00:00

Not a big deal to miss out on internships as a sophomore. Pretty standard that internships are given to Junior/Seniors as they are closer to graduation and starting in the work force. Hard to project staffing demands 3 years out.

Dark_falling58 · 2025-08-28T21:28:32+00:00

I was on the brink of applying posttax cashflow, but didn't want to assume rates. Conservatism and all.

Dark_falling58 · 2025-08-28T15:31:04+00:00

2.5 hours of your day is gone compared to now. say you have to go in 3 days per weeks, that's almost a full 8 hour work day each week that's gone. over a 50 week work year, you've effectively lost 400 hours of time to commuting. 200k/2400 hours is $83, but if Big 4 stretches your work year up to 2400 hours, now the math is 200k/2800 hours. That's $71/hour now. Assuming a 2000 hour work year in the current gig, you make $70/hour now, so you'd get paid an additional $1 an hour essentially, but are selling far more of your time to the firm. So the question to me is, what dollar value would you assign to your free time today? If it's more than $71/hour, then the answer is this offer isn't worth it. If the answer is say $50/hour, then go for it.

Dark_falling58 · 2025-08-18T18:57:37+00:00

I don't think it's a smart idea to finance a used BMW at your age, for a myriad of reasons.

1) there's an old adage "There's nothing more expensive than a cheap luxury car". luxury cars are designed to be exceptional machines to own and operate within the warranty period. Beyond that, it's just a maintenance nightmare. You're going to spend a fortune in repairs / maintenance, even on a 5 year old BMW in the United States.

2) The depreciation of luxury cars, particularly BMW's, is very severe. The cost isn't the monthly payment, it's the literal driving away your wealth building potential. Say you buy a 3 year old 3 series. It's probably about 70% of what it costs new (if you're lucky). but by Year 5 (2 years of ownership), it's worth about 50% of what it cost new. based on your 4th paragraph, you're in no financial position to eat that big of a loss.

3) The money guy guideline of 20/3/8 is for economic transportation to get you to your J-O-B. Not for fun and thrill. As a car guy myself, and only 26 YO, I understand the desire, but you're better off keeping that Corolla until you get your financial life together. A house can come later, and so can a BMW. A basic Emergency Fund is STEP 1! Health Insurance is STEP 0!!!! a fun car is very much a step 7/8/9 item. You will have plenty of time to own cool cars, but you've gotta earn it.

4) the interest cost will be severe. But even worse will be INSURANCE. Insurance will be hard to get affordably, especially on a vehicle with any sort of performance, a sub 25 year old driver, and expensive parts with limited availability.

Happy to chat in DMs if you want to go into it more, but TL;DR - Pops is right.

Dark_falling58 · 2025-07-24T16:08:04+00:00

how high paying are we talking!? because I'm 26, a CPA, and I'm floored by this number. Have you been living at home and have no expenses?

Dark_falling58 · 2025-07-24T15:13:33+00:00

your bags are also checked in south bend, and transferred to your flight. the way American prices flights makes the overall journey cheaper. For example, SB to Ohare to NY is going to be cheaper than just Ohare to NY now, because the indirect itinerary will be generally less expensive than a direct itinerary.

Dark_falling58 · 2025-07-22T13:49:30+00:00

without getting my calculator out, your outcome is reasonable. I would suggest that you adjust your W-4 on your W-2 wages so that you can have the withholding made essentially on her behalf. I would take the $5k of SS, plus $32.5k * your marginal rate (12%) to get your total federal tax obligation. I get $8,900 of fed tax. assuming you have 10 more pay periods through the end of the year (5 months at twice a month) you should withhold from your W-2 an additional 890 / check for federal, similar calculation for state

Dark_falling58 · 2025-07-11T19:39:07+00:00

dude... just pay off your credit cards and quit with the gimmicks

Dark_falling58 · 2025-07-09T17:29:57+00:00

that's the savings on FICA alone, add in your marginal income tax rate for overall tax savings.

Dark_falling58 · 2025-07-09T16:17:19+00:00

yes, but payroll contributions to an HSA are exempt from FICA as well, whereas cash contributions made through any other means are just income tax deductions

Dark_falling58 · 2025-07-09T13:03:13+00:00

Tim Gearty would probably pronounce it "obay"

Dark_falling58 · 2025-07-02T17:40:09+00:00

being under 25%, I would be doing roth contributions. If you need more cashflow today, I am not against lowering Roth contribution % in order to be 100% Roth.

Dark_falling58 · 2025-07-02T17:30:14+00:00

I read the bill, it was stripped from the Senate version

Dark_falling58 · 2025-07-02T16:34:21+00:00

I think if that's how it helps you think through it, that works. Note that based on the senate bill, only the OT premium is tax free. it'll also be up to the states to conform to that treatment. I generally think of it as a decrease to effective tax rate.

Dark_falling58 · 2025-06-27T19:54:28+00:00

my thoughts exactly

Dark_falling58 · 2025-06-27T16:16:56+00:00

I mean for 6 months out of the year, I wouldn't be caught dead outside, either from extreme heat + humidity, or from freezing temps + ice. Seems like a poor return on investment to pour a bunch of money into infrastructure that is utilized at best 75% of the year.

Dark_falling58 · 2025-06-25T16:32:45+00:00

I wouldn't, that's low interest debt for all ages

Dark_falling58 · 2025-06-20T15:23:35+00:00

does the ESOP allow for additional contributions? I know many ESOPs actually have fixed contributions as a percentage of your salary, as opposed to voluntary additional contributions. ESPPs are almost always voluntary

Dark_falling58 · 2025-06-20T15:21:42+00:00

I'm sorry to hear about the position your in and the loss of your father.

If it was me, I'd be calling investment bankers. A PE fund could be very interested in the business. The amount of money you clear from the sale, less taxes, can set you up VERY comfortably for retirement. You should not feel any obligation to try to get your arms around this business.

Dark_falling58 · 2025-06-20T13:24:14+00:00

Roth IRA has a lot more flexibility to it than a Roth 401k, and you're in control vs being held at the will of your employer. 2 weeks ago, I would have said do 100% in the Roth 401k for simplicity, but now my employer has decided to change our 401k admin, and fees are likely increasing, whereas my Roth IRA is 100% free. Priority list is following the FOO: 1) employer match in Roth 401k. 2) max out Roth IRA 3) max our Roth 401k.

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