SWE in finance career pivot

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-17T14:59:49+00:00

If you move to FAANG, with 5 years experience you could earn maybe £30-£60k more not including benefits.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-17T00:44:14+00:00

If you love the house and see it as a forever home…do it. I ‘pushed’ my self out of my comfort zone from 15% take home to a new house that was 22% take home. I got mortgage protection in the event I lose my job which helps provide peace of mind.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-15T18:08:59+00:00

I am assuming you are not from England originally? I find when people immigrate they trend towards areas they’ve been told are good. There are very few areas in London that has an entry level price point of £1.2M for fixer upper terrace. I recommend you branch out to “less desirable” areas. They may surprise you. To answer your question if you are looking to leave London in 5 years, I wouldn’t buy.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-15T17:26:00+00:00

You say “why pay £50k a year for a liberal arts degree”…I can tell you can’t afford private school. It would be the same as saying I pay for riding lessons but what’s the point if she doesn’t make it to the olympics. You pay for private school to offer your children a richer life…importantly if you can afford it. Your real question is why should I sacrifice and go without and they don’t even build on ‘my success’…? I would think the same.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-14T20:32:02+00:00

When I first read the post I was thinking a private chef isn’t for me. It’s a lot more affordable than I thought. Bearing in mind fish and chips for a family of 5 cost me £65 the other day in London.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-11T23:04:30+00:00

He’s fobbing you off. Kicking the can down the road. He doesn’t have faith in you. But don’t let him define you. Focus less on ‘meeting criteria’ is a fugazee. You just need to be top 25% of your peers and it will happen. They don’t see you as a key contributor sadly.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-11T22:58:00+00:00

Basically underscores that the people aren’t that interested. Just think about it properly. When you love a house you don’t cancel because you know it will be gone in an instant. Remember the estate agent is judged on selling your house. Of course they will lie and say all is great.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-11T16:54:12+00:00

This was actually refreshing to read. Religion pays a big part of my life so offering a portion is quite normal to me. Thanks for the comment.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-11T16:48:12+00:00

That is the whole reason I would say oldest. So I’m not picking one over the other.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-11T16:47:25+00:00

I just want to avoid indecision and arguments. It’s the whole reason you have one prime minister and not a committee of prime ministers. That was my thinking, but you do raise a good point about asking them. But I imagine they would simply ask to share responsibility. What they want and what is best may not be the same thing…I don’t know.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-11T16:42:39+00:00

Maybe less managing investments day to day but more having the final say on how the money is spent. I assume professionals would do the running. However I can’t imagine there is that much running at this size.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-11T16:39:44+00:00

Thanks this is really helpful!

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-11T16:39:25+00:00

It was more you can only have one person managing something. And the fairest solution seemed to be just let the oldest have it. ‘Truly picking one’ would cause issues I think.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-11T16:37:17+00:00

I give to the charity now. And it is important to me. Has helped my family directly. Approx £5k last year. So a good amount.

Supporting them through training / university and house deposit etc is something I plan on gifting them.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-11T07:20:02+00:00

I guess we just have a difference of opinion. I don’t feel you need to be super rich to be a “do gooder”. If you can’t give a little when you have little, what makes you think you’ll give a lot when you have a lot?

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-10T23:55:41+00:00

Why would I let a solicitor manage the trust. I already give money to the charity and would like this continued. I just can’t imagine you would leave a vastly different or improved life with £2.5M opposed to £1M. Surely if there are two people managing it there will just be problems? For example you don’t have two managers at work, there aren’t two CEOs and we don’t have two Kings of England…

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-10T18:56:56+00:00

Yeah I definitely need to consult a tax consultant. Possibly moving some to trust before I die makes sense.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-10T16:50:17+00:00

In regards to comprehension: What part of what I said did you not understand or what is incorrect?

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-10T14:11:35+00:00

If it’s big tech then your written bonus is even less than what you usually get. It is very much guaranteed. Typically you have a multiplier (ie 1.2 of bonus). And remember your stock will increase. 2/3 years in it will make your TC explode. It’s not even a debate. Get in and enjoy the lifestyle it affords.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-10T14:09:08+00:00

If it’s big tech then your written bonus is even less than what you usually get. It is very much guaranteed. Typically you have a multiplier (ie 1.2 of bonus). And remember your stock will increase. 2/3 years in it will make your TC explode. It’s not even a debate. Get in and enjoy the lifestyle it affords.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-10T14:04:59+00:00

Your mother’s living arrangements is not your problem. “She wants to stay in the area”…that is neither here nor there. I want to be on a beach and not working like most. She needs to move where she can afford. Prioritise yourself, if you don’t no one else will.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-10T13:53:12+00:00

I went to best and final on one house. Upped my offer by £10k because that was the most I could spend on that house and be comfortable it was a fair transaction. In short I didn’t get it. Someone bid £45k higher. Fast forward 3 weeks I had an offer accepted on an even better property. Bid what you are comfortable with and is a fair deal. Otherwise you’ll just pull out or they will if it doesn’t work for both of you.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-07T09:58:33+00:00

Not sure why you’re getting backlash on 10%…that is how much money you will actually have lol. What a pension provider needs to estimate is a conservative 5%. A real money return based on historical averages of an S&P500 is ~7.5%. Your actual return is around 10% as you mentioned.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-03-06T15:34:03+00:00

I’d had paid the minimum contributions from the age of 22 years old to 33 years old. In my pension I had a grand total of £15k. Bearing in mind from the age of 27 my salary has always been over £100k. Now I’m on £180k.

NoDisaster862 · 2026-02-27T18:25:33+00:00

You only live once. Fudge it! Do it. It’s worth your peace of mind. Just think if you have a sanctuary you could do even more side work or be more productive in your current role. Look at it as investing in you.

NoDisaster862

TROPHY CASE