public accounting sucks, not sure I want to do this any more .... please any advice?

Can you please give me some career advice. I'm a CPA and I make six figures but public accounting absolutely sucks.. I'm 29 y/e. Turnover is ridiculous and it seems like it's a huge accomplishment if you can land a job making $150k. Forget making partner - I don't even know how it's possible...
I know that $150k like top 10% of the population in terms of income, but still, the environment sucks---- people fighting for client contact, stealing your work, turnover, etc. And I'm sorry I really thought I would be making like double this amount by now.
Any advice on what to do? I've just about had and am thinking about going to do something else, like pharmacy school . I like to think I'm a creative guy and can do a lot of creative things.
Is it possible to go into investment banking and make like 250k and have some job security?
What about med school/ pharmacy school... like come on, it can't be that hard. Plus you get job security and doctors make like 300k/year.
I would really appreciate some advice...

 
Best Response

You're actually making decent money in the public accounting field so I'm going so assume you're around the senior manager level. Did you really think you'd be making $300K at 29 in public accounting? I know of one person in public accounting that is making that and he is early 30's and a well established partner of our biggest clients.

To be honest you seem a little emotional and irrational right now. You talk about wanting to do pharmacy school because you think you're creative? I'd scratch the doctor thing - you're 29 and unless you have a particular passion in the medical field, you are going to be spending a lot of time and money for something you may or may not be able to stick out.

You're fighting a losing battle if you keep chasing a bigger paycheck. Step back, ask yourself what your strengths are and where you would like to focus you efforts ideally. Then look at how that can be monetized. Set your sights on a goal and achieve it. Don't close your eyes and blindly go in the direction that might have the biggest pot of gold at the end.

 

Well, I'm barely holding on to my job. Everyone just wants to get rid of everyone else it seems. I've been taken off of any client engagement where I was building a relationship with the client. Boss is the biggest jerk I've ever met. Give vague/impossible instructions/impossible demands. Is that really a way to spend your professional career?

 

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