Fed CPA considering a job in the private sector...How much money is worth giving up the stability?

[Anonymous]

I am a CPA in a niche field and regularly get multiple messages from recruiters. I am talking to one this week and possibly another next week. I am in the 4.4% pension deduction category.

Total Comp at my current job is 124,846(approximately 109k base plus 15.5k pension). I am not including the TSP match since most jobs provide a similar match to the FED 5%.

Seeking opinions. I wouldn't leave for less than my current comp, but what is the $$ you would leave the stability of the federal government given the option?

[Anonymous]

there is no hard and fast formula.

my personal one sits at around 2x my current salary as a floor just due to the likelihood of being laid off and my age.

[Anonymous]

OP here,

What is your formula is you were in early 30s?

[Anonymous]

My go to reference is double the comp I get from my fed job. Triple is when I start actually thinking about switching, weighing the options

I think when I’m 5 or so years from retirement, I’ll make that obscene switch and rake it all in before bowing out for real

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

What is your formula is you were in early 30s?

You are very young so the real question is do you want to be a safe lifer or a modest risk taker?

[Anonymous]

factor in health insurance. federal health insurance is heavily subsidized and top quality. when DH left federal for private, our insurance costs between premium and deductible went up by appx 30k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:factor in health insurance. federal health insurance is heavily subsidized and top quality. when DH left federal for private, our insurance costs between premium and deductible went up by appx 30k.

Thanks, I did not consider that before. Currently I am on my wife’s health insurance because she works for the school system, and its even cheaper than federal.

We are planning on having children, and I would like to make more money to offset her taking off work. She would lose her health insurance then.

The only problem is, I doubt I can get double the pay so soon!

[Anonymous]

Federal health insurance let's you switch plans if you max one out from lung transplant or something.

[Anonymous]

Not knowing the specifics of your role your comp is competitive with the private sector for a CPA in a non-management role.

[Anonymous]

If your wife is a teacher, I would totally do it. She can be the primary parents, handle all the pickups and drop offs and summers, and you can double down on ramping up your career.

I wish I had done that, but I stayed in my stable flexible position because it DW is an attorney with a demanding job, and I needed a job I could be one the calling in for kids doctors appointments without risking being laid off.

That said, private is less stable, though currently CPA is in huge demand. AI is a risk but right now thinking is it won’t decrease demand https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateduchene/2024/08/02/the-cpa-shortage-isnt-going-away-but-ai-and-automation-can-help/

So it comes down to safety net. Can either of your parents help out if you get laid off? Can you live with them nearby so DW keeps her job but you reduce housing expense? Do you have any large cash savings? Going private means you must plan for layoffs and company failure, though again as a CPA you are in good position

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not knowing the specifics of your role your comp is competitive with the private sector for a CPA in a non-management role.

OP here,

Yes, I think it is as well from my research and confirmation with a college classmate who is in management at Big4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your wife is a teacher, I would totally do it. She can be the primary parents, handle all the pickups and drop offs and summers, and you can double down on ramping up your career.

I wish I had done that, but I stayed in my stable flexible position because it DW is an attorney with a demanding job, and I needed a job I could be one the calling in for kids doctors appointments without risking being laid off.

That said, private is less stable, though currently CPA is in huge demand. AI is a risk but right now thinking is it won’t decrease demand https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateduchene/2024/08/02/the-cpa-shortage-isnt-going-away-but-ai-and-automation-can-help/

So it comes down to safety net. Can either of your parents help out if you get laid off? Can you live with them nearby so DW keeps her job but you reduce housing expense? Do you have any large cash savings? Going private means you must plan for layoffs and company failure, though again as a CPA you are in good position

Teachers hours are not at all flexible for pickups and drop offs, sick kids etc. Summers yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your wife is a teacher, I would totally do it. She can be the primary parents, handle all the pickups and drop offs and summers, and you can double down on ramping up your career.

I wish I had done that, but I stayed in my stable flexible position because it DW is an attorney with a demanding job, and I needed a job I could be one the calling in for kids doctors appointments without risking being laid off.

That said, private is less stable, though currently CPA is in huge demand. AI is a risk but right now thinking is it won’t decrease demand https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateduchene/2024/08/02/the-cpa-shortage-isnt-going-away-but-ai-and-automation-can-help/

So it comes down to safety net. Can either of your parents help out if you get laid off? Can you live with them nearby so DW keeps her job but you reduce housing expense? Do you have any large cash savings? Going private means you must plan for layoffs and company failure, though again as a CPA you are in good position

Teachers hours are not at all flexible for pickups and drop offs, sick kids etc. Summers yes.

It’s better than a 8-530 or later office job.

[Anonymous]

OP here,


Wife isn’t a teacher, she has a 9-5 all year. We could definitely live on her salary alone with some sacrifices, and have a 6 month emergency fund. However, we are planning for the future and we made the decision that she would stay home with kids if we have any.

So at the point, it will just be me working. Ive seen some advice on 1 year emergency fund if there is only one person working.

Like I said earlier in my post, I doubt I’d could double my salary by going private. I did a little math and if I stayed stagnant for the next 30 years my pension would be 36,000 a year, which is the equivalent of 900,000 at a 4% draw rate.

If my comp is hovering around $125,000, would $150,000 be worth it for me to leave?

No kids(yet)
HHI a little over 200k but will be cut in half if we have children
No mortgage, but also no debt. Very cheap rent(15% of take home pay)
6 months emergency savings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a CPA in a niche field and regularly get multiple messages from recruiters. I am talking to one this week and possibly another next week. I am in the 4.4% pension deduction category.

Total Comp at my current job is 124,846(approximately 109k base plus 15.5k pension). I am not including the TSP match since most jobs provide a similar match to the FED 5%.

Seeking opinions. I wouldn't leave for less than my current comp, but what is the $$ you would leave the stability of the federal government given the option?

Absolutely, not worth it. The grass is always greener somewhere else. You will regret scarfing work-life balance for a meager increase in your salary with less job security. Apply for new fed jobs that with a higher GS pay scale if you want a raise. Unless they are going to double your current salary I would not even consider it.