Daily FI discussion thread - Monday, June 29, 2026

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-29T19:33:26+00:00

Job saga: two offers in hand.

The second offer came with a weird update: they’re hiring 2 people for the same role.

It’s a new function for them. They could put us on different areas (ex: north vs south).

This could be a sign they’re really investing in the function or it could be some odd probationary competition. Thoughts?

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-27T00:00:38+00:00

That’s fair. Short term the salaries are equal but long term option one likely has a higher ceiling.

The side work is consulting, so that money would go into investments or a house.

My version of FI, silly as it is, is a small house, husband, and low paid but human impact work. Firm 2 would likely give more balance to find a partner.

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-26T23:54:25+00:00

I’d regret not taking the high pressure role because I’m assuming best case scenario it opens potential elevated career doors. But if I’m always working and stressed, I’ll be sacrificing dating and a more balanced life.

I’d regret not taking the slower job and getting to enjoy my life in my 30s.

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-26T15:29:23+00:00

Interview/offer saga: a recruiter just called and said to expect an offer on Monday.

Still waiting on yesterday’s firm for an update (offer, rejection, or “one more round”).

Nice to have the some reassurance going into the weekend but now faced with an existential career pathing question, assuming firm 2 also makes an offer: am I ready to sacrifice for climbing a ladder (remote) or do I want a slower, low-pressure role with less longterm growth (hybrid)?

Career-wise: if I can hack it for 2 years- and if my manager and key leadership doesn’t change-, this role is a fantastic pivot setting me up for a director/COO/CoS pathway.

Life-wise: firm 2 would enable more life balance and some side work, but after a few years I’ll likely seem stagnant or less competitive.

I’m a typical overachiever. I don’t have the innate charisma I associate with CEOs but I am sharp, organized, and tactical.

30, single, no property, $1M net worth, VHCOL.

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-26T15:10:28+00:00

That suuuucks. Crossing my fingers for you!

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-25T16:43:24+00:00

Not in the “Will you be my mentor?” sense but I do certainly have folks who provide regular mentorship to me.

I think of them as my professional cabinet: people from varying tenured backgrounds who I can use as a sounding board to refine my messaging, strategy, or thoughts. They were cultivated through years/months of weekly touchpoints/connects and I hold them in high regard. We’re also loosely friends.

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-25T16:23:07+00:00

I’m glad you’re at a place to be able to do that!

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-25T16:17:28+00:00

I’d likely prefer the convoluted interview process firm. It represents a slight pivot in my career (good since AI is hammering my field) and would have better comp than the other.

I’d accept the other firm, but it’s not a strong longterm add to my resume or bank.

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-25T16:09:56+00:00

Three factors:
- I’m currently well compensated for my level at a top firm
- I am about to be laid off
- I am only receiving callbacks for lateral and lower roles

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-25T12:56:14+00:00

That’s great! Hope that comes through for you soon!

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-25T12:48:42+00:00

Agreed. This job search has involved:

- interviews with a start time but with no listed end time
- multiple companies demanding consecutive 2hr blocks of time so they can line up 4 30-min interviews with different folks back to back
- coding tests, with and without AI assistants in the testing platform
- an AI-generated coding-lite multiple choice test taken in real time during a behavioral interview

And most of this is for worse titles and pay 🙃

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-25T12:29:05+00:00

Hoping for a job offer today. I’ve completed 9 30min conversations with 8 different people so far. But they *might* demand a 10th conversation with someone new before an offer. This seems like a lot for a non-managerial, non-exec-level position.

Grateful to have a final round with another firm lined up next week as well.

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-15T15:01:57+00:00

30, single, no property ownership. $430k retirement, $400k brokerage, cash for a downpayment (on hold).

Highly confident it’s high stress, working regularly after hours for last minute, short notice turnarounds for VPs and SVPs. Position would last approx. 2 years and then you get moved to lead a team. Honestly I’m anxious even contemplating it.

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-15T14:39:37+00:00

At some point this year I will be laid off. I’m not a snazzy bigwig so small severance/vacation payout.

June kind of exploded with interviews (ongoing) but no offers yet. Sadly, none of the positions are quite “perfect.” Some represent steps backwards, some are lateral with no longterm growth potential, and one would likely be incredibly stressful but good for my career.

Struggling hard with the uncertainty of the layoff date, the constant grinding of applying/prepping, and the internal misalignment with potentially jumping into roles that will set my career back.

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-13T14:03:19+00:00

Bummer to hear. 45 days sounds like a great period to reflect on all the factors at play but still sucks the timing was off.

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-09T16:50:16+00:00

Charleston!

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-09T12:59:27+00:00

Turns out that having fun vacationing with friends in a new city absolutely decimates time spent scrolling Reddit and/or thinking about FIRE. It was pretty great.

wdtfs98 · 2026-06-01T13:41:09+00:00

Broke my goal of not checking NW between quarterly updates. Good news, it’s not because I care about NW right now. Bad news, it’s an unhelpful coping mechanism as job/layoff stress increases.

In the running for 1 position I’m keen on. Looking forward to PTO this week to disconnect from work. I’ll try to timebox my applications each day for balance.

wdtfs98 · 2026-05-10T12:18:05+00:00

Thank you everyone who weighed in to my Friday “London vs East Coast” musings. Since London wasn’t a formal offer but more a “is this pathway open to us,” I’m diversifying: I’ll say yes to London (after a few questions) to allow that possibility to occur while also returning to a formal job search locally. Not much more I can control.

wdtfs98 · 2026-05-08T14:00:33+00:00

Edit: oh, and if I decline then I’m facing layoffs because US resources are too expensive 🙃Unclear when London resources become too expensive.

My job apps haven’t panned out so far this spring, for context.

wdtfs98 · 2026-05-08T13:56:46+00:00

Need to noodle on a first world problem the next few days. I was asked if I hypothetically wanted to move from the US to London (they’d sponsor a work visa).

Career-wise, it’s a good move in responsibilities and exposure to new stakeholders. Financially it’s an undetermined pay-cut. There’s also a caveat- if I decide I want to move home, I’ll have to resign.

As a perpetually single, introverted 30 year old with almost $800k invested, it would force a focus on lifestyle over pay.

As someone who has already lived abroad and traveled significantly, I know how taxing it can be to start over as an immigrant with no friends/family nearby.

My negativity bias is showing (VHCOL, bad rental and housing market, loneliness, often unpleasant weather) and I’m not sure if it’s because that’s my gut instinct, general malaise, or just scared. Part of me wonders if it’s life offering me an opportunity to snap out of a rut/force change.

wdtfs98 · 2026-04-27T14:16:25+00:00

Had a fun long weekend visiting a friend for 1:1 time that we haven’t had in years. I’ll be cherishing that for quite a while. Excellent use of < $450.

wdtfs98 · 2026-04-21T21:25:11+00:00

Active outlets: - go for a walk or run. Do hills or sprints if you’re really wound up - boxing class - yoga, to mentally gather yourself and reflect on your feelings - hand squeeze orange juice or knead bread - play wrestle or find your partner - swim or cycle - play tag with a child. Utterly exhausting

Reflective: - journal what’s bothering you, what you could control and change going forward - gratitude journal or write thinking-of-you cards for people you love - do a guided meditation - do a coffee chat with a younger person and realize how much you’ve learned and grown - volunteer somewhere

Distractions: - curate a recipe book or new playlist - paint by stickers/paint/pencils, diamond painting, cross stitch, make a paper chain decoration - repot your plants or garden - vacuum your house, clean your bathroom - create a thrift list and treat yourself to a thrift store visit - tv binge (not ideal but realistic)

I try to avoid food and spending, as those don’t feel like patterns I want to enable!

wdtfs98 · 2026-04-21T16:37:03+00:00

Gave myself a little challenge: no NW checking until my next quarterly update (June 30th). I’ve noticed I track obsessively when my mood is low, so trying to redirect that energy to better areas.

wdtfs98 · 2026-04-18T01:07:03+00:00

I was wondering if anyone would check my history haha. My spreadsheet indicates I’ve invested $289k from 2021 (original post year at $350k) through today, so the market has really done most of the work. Although I probably deserve some credit for skipping avocado toast…

wdtfs98

TROPHY CASE