Is it worth it?

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    Topic
  • #184714
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I graduated with an MBA in 2010. I am planning to sit for exams soon. But I don’t have any experience. And I might need another 10-15 credit hours of school. I am turning 31 in 3 months.

    I always wanted to get in taxes. But I will have to find a job in 2 years and get the necessary experience and school. So if I were lucky I might be a CPA by 35 .

    But just passing the exam without experience and deficient education, I don’t think I will be able to get into the big 4 .

    Also I am good in computer programming and if I wrote to train another 6mths I am sure I can get a job in computers in the next 1 year for at least 60k.

    So I think about it , is being CPA at this age really worth it? After all I can do taxes being an Enrolled Agent with the IRS.

    But I always wanted to be a CPA since college?

    Any suggestion..

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 34 total)
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  • #541835
    Quinacridone
    Member

    I'm 46. I didn't start my bachelors program until I was 38-39, finished a masters in accounting August '13, and am hoping to pass the CPA in May this year.

    Unlike you, I didn't have the skill set to earn $60K a year, but I had the dream to become a CPA. I'm so glad I had the courage to press forward.

    REG - Nov 4, 2013: 88
    FAR - Feb 27, 2014: 86
    AUD - April 5, 2014: 91
    BEC - May 6, 2014: 83

    Florida CPA 24 July 2014
    (Done in seven months - thank you Jesus!!)

    #541867
    Quinacridone
    Member

    I'm 46. I didn't start my bachelors program until I was 38-39, finished a masters in accounting August '13, and am hoping to pass the CPA in May this year.

    Unlike you, I didn't have the skill set to earn $60K a year, but I had the dream to become a CPA. I'm so glad I had the courage to press forward.

    REG - Nov 4, 2013: 88
    FAR - Feb 27, 2014: 86
    AUD - April 5, 2014: 91
    BEC - May 6, 2014: 83

    Florida CPA 24 July 2014
    (Done in seven months - thank you Jesus!!)

    #541837
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I think at this point you need to decide what you would rather do for a career, get the certification/degree for that, and start your career. There are plenty of people on here that started after 30. If I pass all of my exams before August I will be 34. Granted I have experience in accounting, but I just hired someone that is 29 as a staff accountant currently working on her masters in accountancy and then she will sit for the CPA exam. She doesn't have any accounting experience either. You could do whatever you want to.

    #541869
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I think at this point you need to decide what you would rather do for a career, get the certification/degree for that, and start your career. There are plenty of people on here that started after 30. If I pass all of my exams before August I will be 34. Granted I have experience in accounting, but I just hired someone that is 29 as a staff accountant currently working on her masters in accountancy and then she will sit for the CPA exam. She doesn't have any accounting experience either. You could do whatever you want to.

    #541839
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Being a CPA is my dream. I rather make less money and be a CPA than work for semething else. Don't get me wrong. Those 3 letter designation is more appealing than anything else . I know getting into the big 4 is a big hassle and you have to work like a dog. I am ready for that but it's been a long time since I graduated. I always wanted to work for the big 4 for couple of years and start my own practice but my main concern is if I will ever get into big 4 considering my age.

    Thank you for your answers.

    #541871
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Being a CPA is my dream. I rather make less money and be a CPA than work for semething else. Don't get me wrong. Those 3 letter designation is more appealing than anything else . I know getting into the big 4 is a big hassle and you have to work like a dog. I am ready for that but it's been a long time since I graduated. I always wanted to work for the big 4 for couple of years and start my own practice but my main concern is if I will ever get into big 4 considering my age.

    Thank you for your answers.

    #541841
    fuzyfro89
    Participant

    It depends on what you want to do, of course. No one on this forum can answer that for you. From a dollar perspective, you can easily double your starting salary once you get your first accounting job within 10 years… possibly more depending on your goals/interests.

    How long do you plan to work and progress in your career? Assuming you plan to retire at 55, that's at MINIMUM 19 years of a professional career.

    #541873
    fuzyfro89
    Participant

    It depends on what you want to do, of course. No one on this forum can answer that for you. From a dollar perspective, you can easily double your starting salary once you get your first accounting job within 10 years… possibly more depending on your goals/interests.

    How long do you plan to work and progress in your career? Assuming you plan to retire at 55, that's at MINIMUM 19 years of a professional career.

    #541843
    Study Monk
    Member

    unPAT

    I am 31 and I am trying to get into taxes.
    Get units while you study for the CPA exam. I see no reason why you can't pass the CPA exam in the next 9 months if you are truly dedicated. You still have time to get your CPA by the next tax recruiting season.

    Why would it take you 4 years to become a CPA? It takes a person working full time two to three months to pass each exam. The link I attached will give you 15 units in the next two months. The worst case scenario would be that you don't get picked up in the next recruiting season, but the year after.

    People thinking Big 4 is the only way to go is also ridiculous. You will likely get more suitable experience for opening your own business working at small and medium size firms. Why you ask? Because your not going to be doing Pepsi's tax returns at UnPat LLC. You most likely will not be spending your time communicating with tax departments at Fortune 500 companies. Most likely you will be doing massive amounts of returns for individuals and small businesses. There are a lot of firms that will take someone with a MBA and CPA. You will probably make over 60k after couple of years at these “small” firms and be able to develop the skills necessary to open your own business. Many of your client's won't know what a Big 4 firm is. It's mainly recent grads and pompous ex Big 4 employees who inflate their reputation. Oh yah and CFO's at Fortune 500 companies(OOps). Either way they aren't the only firms with solid reputations.

    If you still need to get a big 4 job and believe it will fill the empty void in your soul, then the first thing you need to do is stop talking about them like they are so much above you. You need to treat a Big 4 like a woman/man that you are into. You need to look at them and their recruiters like they would be lucky to have one night with you. If you keep on writing sad posts about how working at Big 4's is your only dream in the whole world then you are going to wet your pants during the interview. I have no intention of working at a Big 4, but the sad thing is I am the kind of basta*d to walk into an interview and get an offer. It's the arrogant people who think they know it all and who look confident enough to take over the world who end up getting Big 4 jobs. I am kind of grumpy because it is late, but in summary THINK POSITIVELY:)

    I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

    "Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

    #541875
    Study Monk
    Member

    unPAT

    I am 31 and I am trying to get into taxes.
    Get units while you study for the CPA exam. I see no reason why you can't pass the CPA exam in the next 9 months if you are truly dedicated. You still have time to get your CPA by the next tax recruiting season.

    Why would it take you 4 years to become a CPA? It takes a person working full time two to three months to pass each exam. The link I attached will give you 15 units in the next two months. The worst case scenario would be that you don't get picked up in the next recruiting season, but the year after.

    People thinking Big 4 is the only way to go is also ridiculous. You will likely get more suitable experience for opening your own business working at small and medium size firms. Why you ask? Because your not going to be doing Pepsi's tax returns at UnPat LLC. You most likely will not be spending your time communicating with tax departments at Fortune 500 companies. Most likely you will be doing massive amounts of returns for individuals and small businesses. There are a lot of firms that will take someone with a MBA and CPA. You will probably make over 60k after couple of years at these “small” firms and be able to develop the skills necessary to open your own business. Many of your client's won't know what a Big 4 firm is. It's mainly recent grads and pompous ex Big 4 employees who inflate their reputation. Oh yah and CFO's at Fortune 500 companies(OOps). Either way they aren't the only firms with solid reputations.

    If you still need to get a big 4 job and believe it will fill the empty void in your soul, then the first thing you need to do is stop talking about them like they are so much above you. You need to treat a Big 4 like a woman/man that you are into. You need to look at them and their recruiters like they would be lucky to have one night with you. If you keep on writing sad posts about how working at Big 4's is your only dream in the whole world then you are going to wet your pants during the interview. I have no intention of working at a Big 4, but the sad thing is I am the kind of basta*d to walk into an interview and get an offer. It's the arrogant people who think they know it all and who look confident enough to take over the world who end up getting Big 4 jobs. I am kind of grumpy because it is late, but in summary THINK POSITIVELY:)

    I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

    "Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

    #541845
    fuzyfro89
    Participant

    No one on this forum can answer whether it is “worth it”. What is your career goal (and financial goals)? How do you plan to achieve that?

    Getting a CPA even at age 40, assuming you retire early at 55, is still a 15 year career. FIFTEEN YEARS! From a purely financial standpoint, you could easily double/triple your starting salary… again, depending on if that is your goal.

    What do you want out of your career and what are your financial goals?

    #541877
    fuzyfro89
    Participant

    No one on this forum can answer whether it is “worth it”. What is your career goal (and financial goals)? How do you plan to achieve that?

    Getting a CPA even at age 40, assuming you retire early at 55, is still a 15 year career. FIFTEEN YEARS! From a purely financial standpoint, you could easily double/triple your starting salary… again, depending on if that is your goal.

    What do you want out of your career and what are your financial goals?

    #541847
    CarrieM
    Participant

    UnPat, I'll be graduating in 6 weeks with my MSA. I'm 44 and will be diving directly into CPA prep, in fact, I just got my materials in the mail on Saturday. I'll be 45 before I'm done.

    Who cares – I'm going to be 45 anyway. Only now, I'll be 45 with better earning potential and having accomplished 3 of my major goals – finishing my bachelor's, getting a master's degree and passing the CPA.

    If you really want it, go for it.

    FAR: 5/12/16... and if I don't die from an anxiety attack...
    AUD: 7/8/16
    REG: 8/25/16
    BEC: 11/3/16

    #541878
    CarrieM
    Participant

    UnPat, I'll be graduating in 6 weeks with my MSA. I'm 44 and will be diving directly into CPA prep, in fact, I just got my materials in the mail on Saturday. I'll be 45 before I'm done.

    Who cares – I'm going to be 45 anyway. Only now, I'll be 45 with better earning potential and having accomplished 3 of my major goals – finishing my bachelor's, getting a master's degree and passing the CPA.

    If you really want it, go for it.

    FAR: 5/12/16... and if I don't die from an anxiety attack...
    AUD: 7/8/16
    REG: 8/25/16
    BEC: 11/3/16

    #541849
    Kimboroni
    Member

    I'm in my 40s, and I think it's worth it for me.

    AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
    FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
    REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
    BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

    Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

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