When did you decide to move home?
This will likely be niche — but I’d like to hear from those who are from smaller states/cities, but started their careers in NY/SF/Chi.
At what point in your career did you feel ready to move back to your home state? I’m longing to be back in my home state, but it’s not a great place for finance and am feeling dejected that I may never get back to my home state without sacrificing my career trajectory.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, moving back home to a smaller market often happens for personal reasons, such as family, lifestyle, or a desire for a change in pace. One user shared their experience of moving back home to a smaller market for family reasons after starting their career in a larger city. They acknowledged the challenges of restarting in a less finance-centric area but emphasized the importance of staying flexible, thinking outside the box, and leveraging opportunities to remain relevant. They also highlighted how side consulting gigs helped expand their network and maintain career momentum.
If you're considering this move, it might be worth exploring creative ways to align your career goals with the opportunities available in your home state. Networking, identifying niche roles, or even remote opportunities could help bridge the gap between your aspirations and the local market.
Sources: What is your compensation in Real Estate Finance?, Question for Those Who Moved Cities, Leave MF PE for H/S MBA and Pursue Goal to Develop Country?, Navigating the Unemployment Terrain
When the bag was secured.
I’m from Honolulu, Hawaii but live in SF. Moving back home is something I’ve thought about a lot, and some of my friends have done it, mainly for their kids. My wife is also from Hawaii.
In my case, it is unlikely we will move back home until our kids are graduated from grade school (meaning when I’m semi retired). It’s been about 11 years (2014 - 2025) since I made a pivot to networking back home, to reestablish relationships. It’s been 4 years since I became a part time business consultant to my home state government (I have expertise in real estate development, but use finance skill for modeling out economic development projects).
And what I’ve established is a “best of both worlds (for now)” for me regarding frequency of travel back home (2-4x per year) and professional impact to shape my home state’s future (which is important to me). I fly back for a few days for conferences, family vacations, and interesting events.
One thing that is holding me from moving is cost. The cost of homes are expensive in Hawaii. Private school tuition is $30K/year per child. I know I’m a maximizer and would put them in private school. Now, SF private school is closer to $40K-$50K, but I’m only compelled to pay that for high school, whereas in Hawaii likely for middle school as well.
For my friends, their decision to move back home was for their kids. Plus, they have their parents to help care for kids and an extended family to spend time with. My wife and I don’t have parents left over there, so that is a big difference.
Lastly, if I can get a project related to my work over there, so I can maintain a remote job, then that would be a difference maker. I’m trying.
But think about starting to deliberately network back home and dedicate some years to doing that.
I worked 5 years in DC and NYC and then decided to move back home down south for a girl. I was so accustomed to big city life and even the little things like how fast people walk downtown. Everything seemed a little slower and less intense.
By now I’ve had my fun back down south but will return to a big city soon, hopefully NYC.
Not US based but from a part of the world with a borderline non-existent financial sector. Left straight after college and worked overseas in various financial hubs for 10 years and counting.
Simple fact is I can't go back until I retire. Even then not sure I want to because it's such a limiting place.
Also the sad reality is I'm from a small family that's not at all tight knit. Once I retire I assume what little family I have left will be dead or close to it and that just leaves my high school/college friends. As much as I enjoy doing the rounds with them when I'm back there, would I really move back across the world for people I was close to 25 years earlier?
Typing this out has made me realise how unanchored you become when you relocate frequently. I can't really say where I currently live is "home", nor any of the other countries I've worked in because I've only stayed in them 2-3 years each. At the same time, my home country doesn't feel like home anymore either.
US-based, but I’ve lived and worked in five states now in very different parts of the country. This is absolutely the case.
Did my two years and went back to my small town. Very happy with the decision. Also, worked out since my gf wanted to start settling down
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