[Q]

I currently work at a CPA firm. I am half way done with the CPA exam and have already finished the CMA exam. All and all is the CPA exam worth it? I know it opens up a lot of job opportunities but for what? 85-150k. That’s not enough money for me. I need a way higher earning potential then that. That may be good money to some people but there is way more money to earn than 85-150k and the field of accounting just doesn’t offer that. Maybe at a Big 4 but that is a small pool and many years down the line me (Late 40’s early 50’s)… Their are 30 year olds making sure more that. If I could do it all over again I definitely don’t think I would of went to school for ACCOUNTING. No way no how

[Recked]

You gt out of it what you put into it.
Once you have the CPA you can be self employed and earn as much or as little as you want.
$300/hr x 1000 billable hours = $300k, lose 40-60% to overhead, clear 150k pretax for working part time.

Partners at semi large firms and up clear 200k easily, I think the average partner salary is actually over 400k, you can research this, there are many articles on it.

Figure 1/3 goes to overhead, 1/3 goes to wages, and 1/3 is profit to be split among the equity holders.
To say you would be limited at 150k is a stretch, but you also have to be willing to work for it.
You are not going to make a fortune working for someone else.
Build your dreams or someone else will pay you to build theirs.

Also to say 150k isn't enough for you. That's special.
Live small, save big. No one will ever lie on their death bed wishing they worked more or made more money, but exactly the opposite.
Wish you worked less and lived life more. Keep chasing that almighty dollar, it's the American Dream.

[Ivy]

CPA certificate is like a badge, have to flash it to get in certain places. It will have different value depends on where you use it. If don’t need it, won’t use it, it is worth nothing!

How much one can earn is nothing to do with or without any certificate. You can earn as much as the effort you put in from every field, every professional.

I would be happier if able to keep more than just earn more. On the other hand, We can only spend so much, enjoy so much money. There is a limit on the happiness money can buy, which is not that high.

[Rose]

@qunny14, no other degree just his Bachelor and CPA, and 7-8 years experience in Marketing. He did Big 4 for a few years and wanted more $$ so he went into marketing. He was VP marketing and eventually CEO.

[Author]

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