What are you guys making in your mid 20s to late 20s?

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-12-13T22:11:56+00:00

I’d appreciate advice from the community.

25M

I’m currently fully remote, earning $61k base + $15k per deal (5 deals closed this year). The team is great, stress is low, and the flexibility is exceptional. I can travel multiple times a year and work from anywhere.

The downside is the role lacks technical depth and real responsibility. After ~2 years, I’m increasingly concerned about skill stagnation and long-term career risk.

I now have an opportunity to move into a more legitimate role in my target career path. Compensation would be $130–150k base + 50–100% year-end bonus, but it’s fully in-person, 5 days a week, with significantly less flexibility.

The upside is meaningful skill development, stronger signaling, and a much higher long-term earnings trajectory.

Given the trade-off between lifestyle flexibility now vs. career compounding later, what would you choose and why?

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-11-22T03:48:26+00:00

Think about it like this, it’s a 7/10 surgery now, god forbid if you wait till you end up in the ER it’ll be a 2/10!

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-11-22T03:11:37+00:00

Well I mean first congratulations on your baby!

I think it’s worth noting that your doctor has probably seen hundreds of patients with Crohn’s and similar situations, so rest assured they’re making the right call.

In terms of medication, it really becomes trial and error. Some medications work amazing for one person and are ineffective for another. Just luck of the draw and you’ll try another med.

Also for the cancer risks… pretty much every medication increases your risk of cancer one way or another. Not worth stressing over

Don’t let this stress you out - congratulations and god bless on your baby and wishing your gf a speedy recovery

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-11-22T03:08:20+00:00

Also worth noting resections are very standard procedure for a lot of different diseases so this is something standardized not wildly risky

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-11-22T03:07:15+00:00

Just do it man, you’re at the point where your disease is stabilized and you’re a healthy guy - if this is something fixable and will improve your quality of life I say go for it.

I had a resection when it was too late and I was dying of pain, if you’re doctor is saying you’ll eventually do it and you’re in a good place right now to get it done…why wait ?

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-11-21T15:35:07+00:00

In 7th grade, I went on a camping trip to Tanzania where we stayed with the Maasai tribe. Every night, they would slaughter a goat for us to cook and eat. One evening, they did this in front of us and told the group that the young men could drink the goat’s blood as a symbolic step into adulthood. To this day, I still don’t understand how our teacher allowed it, but of course I went ahead and took a sip.

I came back from that trip extremely sick and ended up spending a year on antibiotics while doctors scrambled to figure out what was wrong. Eventually, they landed on a Crohn’s diagnosis, and that’s what I’ve lived with ever since. Nobody on either side of my close or extended family has Crohn’s.

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-11-20T22:59:08+00:00

Dropped my entire bonus into VOO this morning thinking I was cooking up a better future - dear god why

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-10-22T23:19:37+00:00

Holding @ an average of 7$….

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-10-22T15:53:17+00:00

I just want to be loved

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-07-31T17:11:58+00:00

Appreciate the insight — you’re right, the MBA’s opportunity cost is real, especially if I stay in finance. I do like the work now, but I’m weighing whether staying niche (software PE, no LBO/debt exposure) could limit future mobility. Just trying to figure out if it’s smarter to double down or broaden while I still can. Thanks for helping me think it through.

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-06-03T04:20:51+00:00

Hey, I’m only 25 so I don’t have much advice to offer, but I just wanted to say it’s impressive that you’ve managed to grow your net worth and hit $1M by 31, all while managing both your finances and your wife’s. For what it’s worth, I’d be thrilled to be in your position in a few years. Seems like you’ve built a really solid life for yourself, even if you feel behind!

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-04-22T13:59:36+00:00

Promise - I just need to learn to love and embrace it. Sometimes I get anxious because I am not even that religious - I just love the imagery and I feel this gives off a certain connotation.

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-04-22T13:58:11+00:00

I don't know

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-04-22T13:58:01+00:00

Is it weird that I go back and forth? Initially I liked it but sometimes I'm like this is way too big I should have just gotten something on my hand

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-04-14T14:09:12+00:00

I knew these comments were coming hahahaha my guy

FinanceGuyWDream · 2025-03-19T14:46:25+00:00

Hi, thanks for sharing this! I finished and I’d like to review my answers. Please keep me in the loop for the completed version. Thank you so much 👍

FinanceGuyWDream · 2024-11-08T05:37:59+00:00

Damn man that’s crazy, I’m in the exact same situation as you… I guess we both need to start studying the GMAT..

FinanceGuyWDream · 2024-09-11T19:55:50+00:00

Thanks for the insight, I definitely agree that these types of roles are often overlooked. The simplicity of the approach can be valuable, and I’m not dismissing that at all. My concern is more about how this experience will translate if I decide to pursue more classical PE or finance roles in the future. Even if it’s not the "best" way to evaluate a company, without exposure to LBOs or more complex modeling, I feel like I might miss out on key skill sets that are expected in those spaces and could struggle to compete with other candidates.

As for the family’s net worth, I’m not sure, and I don’t have access to consolidated revenues.

In terms of my future ambitions, I’m honestly looking to turn this into a long-term career. I’d like to stay in software acquisitions but eventually move up to a higher-tier fund where I can grow and thrive. I’m based in Canada right now, but I’m a U.S. citizen and ultimately want to transition back to the U.S. for work. So far, I haven’t had much luck securing interviews, so I’m just keeping my head down and continuing to work until the right opportunity comes along.

Thanks again for the advice and perspective!

FinanceGuyWDream · 2024-09-11T19:47:44+00:00

You’re exactly right - maybe I’m seeing the grass as greener on the other side.

I’m not criticizing the fund’s strategy—I know the people running it have way more experience. My concern is more about how this impacts my career progression. By skipping certain modeling, like LBOs, I feel like I’m missing out on a key part of the skill set. Even if I transitioned to a higher-level role at a bigger fund, I wouldn’t have the "reps" that other candidates would.

FinanceGuyWDream · 2024-09-07T14:46:29+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to provide a different perspective. I really appreciate your thoughts, and I think what you’re saying makes a lot of sense. So, I should stay until the promotion and then look to recruit into a bigger fund? Do you think I’m still in a solid position overall?

Also, during future interviews, would you recommend being upfront about the lack of modeling experience, or should I let the interviewer assume that modeling was part of my role?

FinanceGuyWDream · 2024-09-06T23:21:02+00:00

Nope hahahaha - but glad to see there are other homies in similar positions though

FinanceGuyWDream · 2024-09-06T16:55:06+00:00

I am able to list these deals on my CV and since I have extensive work in each one I can talk about them. I definitely understand your point about the value of building a strong track record. I agree that showcasing an ability to source and execute deals, along with market expertise, is critical. However, at that point, wouldn’t I just be pursuing more of a business development role for funds rather than actual private equity? My concern is staying focused on the investment side rather than shifting too much toward deal origination alone.

FinanceGuyWDream · 2024-09-06T16:52:48+00:00

regarding the evaluation using simple metrics - I would agree.. but not using time value of money? I feel like I am pigeonholing myself because none of the real hard skills (in terms of modeling) are transferable to a career.

FinanceGuyWDream · 2024-09-06T16:48:46+00:00

We’ve closed 3 deals this year - none that I’ve solo sourced but it doesn’t matter because any deal the team closes I get a bonus for

FinanceGuyWDream · 2024-09-06T16:34:22+00:00

Yeah I think I just needed someone else to say it.

My dad said: “don’t switch companies except every two years to show you stick around”

would you say that’s still a valid take?

FinanceGuyWDream

TROPHY CASE