FLDP instead of B4 Audit? Accounting Student needing help and advice

Hello all,

I am a student in the TX DFW area going to a non-target school. I am doing a Professional Program in Accounting (PPA) to get my 150 hours eligibility for the CPA. I have a Big 4 Internship lined up for Dallas, but recently, I have been having some doubts about whether or not pursuing Big 4 audit is something I want to do.

I have heard great things about Finance Leadership Development Programs - certain companies (some of the F500) will hire finance/accounting students straight out of college for a 2-3 year rotation across different finance/accounting departments, and even help pay for the CPA like most public accounting firms do. Salary is a little more initially as opposed to doing Big 4, and the hours are way, way more reasonable than Big 4 audit.

My family is based out of West Plano, so doing a FLDP in the North Dallas/Plano/Frisco area would be ideal. My parents would be willing to let me commute from their house, and it would be way better than having to pay for rent for an apartment in Dallas for however long I'd be with Big 4. My main concern is obviously how it would affect my career path, and I'd love to hear thoughts about the differences between B4 audit/FLDPs would be with that.

My life goal is to have a family, so if I would already be living in Plano in a nice North Texas suburb practically rent free, saving up money, I would be at an awesome advantage. I greatly value my free time and I would love to travel one day - I work to live, not the other way around. This might sound silly and goes against the general nature of WSO, but making six figures at some accounting job while having as much possible time with my future wife, children, and myself sounds so ideal to me. I would take a CFO/Director job if it was offered to me, and I would enjoy the extra pay, but ultimately I just want a nice comfy suburban lifestyle.

Any thoughts about FLDPs/Big 4, my potential future career path and advice would be greatly appreciated. I'd also appreciate any suggestions for companies potentially doing FLDPs in the North Dallas area as well.