The Dumbest Financial Decision I Ever Made

Two years ago, I made what most people would call a dumb financial decision.

A few months earlier, my wife was laid off from her well-paying job. I was working at a financial planning firm, earning decent money, enjoying the people I worked with, and serving people I cared about. On paper, things looked fine.

But I was burnt out.

Behind the scenes, I felt broken. I kept pushing myself, but I knew I was reaching a breaking point.

So I did something crazy. With my wife unemployed, limited savings, and no financial safety net, I quit my job.

Instead, I started offering outsourced paraplanning services to other advisors. Thankfully, a few firms gave me a chance, and my wife found a new job a couple months later. Our income wasn’t what it used to be, but we made it work.

About a year ago, I took another leap: I started my own financial planning firm. I missed working directly with people, and I wanted to help them live lives that felt authentic, something I had just fought to create for myself.

While most financial advisors (myself included) would say leaving a stable job after your spouse lost theirs is a dumb financial decision, the reality is we’re human. We’re not perfect. We can’t blindly follow a spreadsheet or a financial plan. Real life is messy, and sometimes, you have to make a “dumb” decision to live your authentic life.

It’s still stressful and scary at times, but I don’t regret that choice for a second. Because of it, I’ve learned to better manage stress, take care of myself, and be a better advisor, business owner, and, most importantly, a better husband to Annie.

Without her support, none of this would have been possible. So Annie, thank you for letting me take that leap, and for standing by my side through what will (hopefully) remain the craziest financial decision I’ll ever make.