Help on Evaluating two Different Career Paths in Investments vs Technology Consulting

FYI Not looking for someone to make a decision for me (although if you think I am analyzing this the wrong way or crazy in my approach, please make it known)

Situation

I am currently am an investment analyst (~1yr) in a small advisory/investment management-research firm in a high C.O.L. west coast city (Think Newport Beach or San Francisco). Long commute (~2.5 hours a day), hours range between high 40s and low 60s depending on the quarter, pay is high 60s, pay at higher levels is below IBD or top AM, benefits are decent, challenge of work is a factor of quantity rather than difficulty (which is both a positive and negative in my view). I had to work 4 jobs during College, had a crap GPA below a 2.7, lost money in a start-up failure, family members passed away and I had to take a gap year to ensure family business didn't implode......I'm blessed to even be a college graduate let alone employed given my uncanny background.

I could definitely stay here and life could work out fine (the group I am in is amazing, I look at the ocean and at multiple city skylines every day, and the atmosphere is not backbreaking except a couple weeks per quarter, which would let me settle down with someone I want to marry and start my side-hustles in real estate, coaching, tech ventures, and eventually politics).

However, when I took this job, I also had an offer at a Tier 3 or below Consulting practice (Big 4, technology, non-strategy/management consulting). The pay all out my first year alone would be 30% above what I make now, benefits are spectacular (including student loan assistance, alumni presence at biz school

 

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