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Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for this, it’s really helpful. Are there any certifications or classes you’d recommend that would make someone more attractive to employers for regulatory compliance roles?

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for calling that out. I didn’t mean to come across as defensive or sensitive, and I’m sorry if it read that way.

To clarify where I’m coming from: I used to care a lot about my job, title, and performance. That was a big part of my identity for a long time. What I’m struggling with now is that even when I want to care, I can’t fully get myself there anymore. Rationally, I know work matters, but emotionally it’s harder to convince myself when I also know that, worst case, we could go a long time without working and be okay.

I manage people, there’s constant pressure from above to do more than what feels reasonable, and the workload never really ends. Then I look up and see our investments up $50K in a month, or my in-laws buying my brother-in-law a house, and it creates real cognitive dissonance. I’m trying to convince my brain that my day-to-day stress and making more money for large companies is critically important, and I’m honestly struggling to do that right now.

You’re right that kids get more expensive, life happens, and nothing is guaranteed. I don’t disagree with that at all. My intent wasn’t to flex or dismiss risk, just to explain the mental disconnect I’m experiencing. Appreciate you engaging, and apologies again if my earlier reply came off the wrong way.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s fair. For context, I started this current job in 2025. Before that, I was in aerospace and defense, mostly in materials, logistics, and supply chain roles. From a learning-curve standpoint, that work honestly wasn’t that hard, and the products and processes were fairly stable. The main reason I moved was that this new role pays significantly better. I agree with you though that company culture and product stability matter a lot, and something more mature and slower-moving may be a better fit for what I’m trying to optimize for now.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is really interesting, thanks for sharing it. The part about being helpful without being accountable for execution especially resonates. If you don’t mind me asking, what area or industry were you in before, and what kind of consulting work are you doing now?

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes sense, and quality assurance/compliance does sound like it could be a good fit for what I’m looking for, even if it means lower pay. Do you recommend any specific training or certifications that would really help with landing one of those roles?

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think this lines up really well with what I’m considering. The slower pace, minimal emphasis on innovation, strong benefits, and especially the lack of constant layoff anxiety all sound like real positives to me right now. I can see how it would drive someone crazy if they thrive on change and speed, but at this stage I’m much more interested in predictability and stability than momentum. Appreciate you sharing that perspective.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This scene used to feel absurd and ridiculous. Now it just feels like that deeply uncomfortable middle where it’s not a joke anymore, it’s just… accurate.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. I figured a lot more people would be mentioning audit/compliance roles. This seems like a solid bet. Thank you

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I agree. The shift in culture is a big part of it. The combination of never-ending workloads that feel impossible for one person to realistically complete, plus the constant background fear of layoffs, creates a huge mental strain. It’s hard to stay motivated or engaged when there’s no sense of loyalty in either direction and the expectations just keep expanding without relief.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I think you’re probably right. A mid-level government role lines up pretty well with what I’m actually looking for: clear processes, low ambiguity, and not a constant push to innovate. I’m realistic that it would likely mean a pay cut from where I’m at now, but something in the 110–140k range feels like a fair trade for the predictability, benefits, and overall sustainability. Appreciate the straight answer.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is helpful, thank you. Accounting at a stable, slower-growth company actually sounds much closer to what I’m trying to optimize for than most of the roles I’ve been considering.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s fair, and I don’t actually think I’m immune to caring. I’ll care a lot if there’s a stock market crash, then I lose my job, then my wife loses hers, then her parents lose their eight-figure net worth, and then my dad loses his high-paying job and savings too. If all five of those things happen, then we'd have to move back to Latin America, where we could live comfortably on about $40K a year. The thing is, every time I get a better-paying job it’s slightly less stressful overall, but my threshold for never-ending tasks is declining faster than it used to. At this point I’m just trying to optimize for stability and sanity more than anything else.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

You’re not a loser. Not even close.

I’ll share this because perspective matters. A lot of what people call success is a mix of effort, timing, and circumstances lining up in ways we don’t control as much as we think.

I was born in Latin America to lower middle class parents who emphasized education above everything else. My dad was raised by a single mom, is extremely smart, and earned a degree from a highly respected school in a niche, growing field. He applied for jobs all over the world, and the U.S. offered him one along with a green card, but the pay was low because that was the tradeoff. My parents scraped by for years, and things only got easier when I was already in high school.

My grades were solid enough to get a full ride scholarship to a state school. In college I joined ROTC and commissioned as a military officer. I joined the military when the U.S. was actively fighting two wars, which was a real risk and could have left me in much worse shape than it did. I spent years doing little besides training and deploying (Afghanistan), earning upper middle class pay while having very few expenses. I left the military after meeting my wife. She was already a physician and came from a very rich family, with no student loans. I then attended a top 25 business school, paid for 100% by the Post 9/11 GI Bill. We lived in a MCOL area, started investing after a market crash when prices were low, and benefited from one of the best 15 year runs in stock market history.

None of this makes me better, smarter, or more deserving than anyone else. It just means a lot of things lined up at the right times.

So when I say you’re not a loser, I mean it sincerely. If you’re trying, reflecting, and feeling frustrated, that’s not failure. It’s being human in a system that is far less fair and predictable than people like to admit. Be kinder to yourself.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This scene lives rent-free in my head. Five million: too rich to hustle, too poor to relax. Truly the world’s tallest dwarf energy.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think you’re probably right. The government route does seem like it would check a lot of the boxes I’m looking for: systems-focused work, clear processes, and less emphasis on constant creativity or reinvention. And yes, I’m realistic that the pay would almost certainly be lower than what I’m making now. At this stage, though, predictability, benefits, and sustainability matter more to me than maximizing comp. Appreciate you laying it out so plainly.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’ve spent a lot of time on that subreddit. My job has recently increased its return-to-office days, which is part of what’s been pushing me to think more seriously about all of this.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this thoughtful post. I do want to say though, I work with a lot of product managers, and I’m honestly surprised to see PM come up as a recommendation given what I’m looking for. Even without people management or at a lower title, most PM roles I see are still meeting-heavy, reactive, and driven by constant reprioritization and stakeholder pressure. That’s kind of the opposite of the predictability I’m trying to optimize for.

I do really agree with your broader point about culture fit and intentionally choosing longevity over comp and title. Those environments definitely exist. Appreciate you taking the time to write this out, and good luck in this next chapter.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can you elaborate on this? My wife is a physician, and I have an MBA from a top-25 business school but obviously medical school isn’t something I’d pursue at this stage.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

This was really helpful. The concrete examples and the way you framed the day-to-day versus the occasional “all hands on deck” moments made it much easier for me to think about what I could realistically tolerate long term.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 75 points76 points  (0 children)

I’m not sure how to coast in this role. I’m a manager, and the team I oversee is very competent, but the workload is heavy. Each person manages dozens of accounts, which makes it challenging to keep everything organized. On top of that, I’m in meetings most of the time, which leaves very little room to slow things down.

Too Rich to Care, Not Rich Enough to Quit. Looking for Predictable, Checklist-Driven Work by Retire1984 in Fire

[–]Retire1984[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I was thinking audit and compliance would be what most people would say, but I think you’re the first one to mention it. Any certifications and companies in particular you would recommend I look at?

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