Page 111 - Marky Stein - Fearless Career Change_ The Fast Track to Success in a New Field (2004)

Ten Success Stories About People Just Like You

Miguel too was not pleased about being a pawn to a poor
economy, but he said that he felt “insecure” about changing
careers midstream, saying, “I cannot see changing careers at this
point in my life. I worked for six years to get my MSEE (master’s
in electrical engineering) and my salary is—or was—the highest it
has ever been in my life.”
It was not until completing the career fingerprinting process
that Miguel began to think that there might be something more
for him in a different field.

Though he was fearful about leaving the familiar
territory of high technology, the power of his
true calling proved to have the thrust to override
most of his trepidation.

Miguel’s unique calling turned out to be “teaching, advising
and mentoring others so that they can reach their full potential.”
With this newfound self-knowledge, he began to cautiously consid-
er some positions other than engineering that might fulfill his love
of guiding and advising others. Miguel chose to research the posi-
tions of postsales engineering, architecture, and certified financial
planning and submitted them to comparison.
He found out a lot about financial advising that attracted him.
Number 1 was the intensive contact with people and the opportu-
nity to act as a counselor and mentor to those wishing to achieve
their full financial potential. The second feature of the new posi-
tion that caught his eye was the almost unlimited amount of money
that can be made by a financial advisor, as he would be paid a base
salary plus bonuses and commissions.
Although the first year or so as a financial advisor can be
challenging, while you are building a client base, later years (as
early as the third, according to his research) can yield up to
$375,000 and more.
Miguel had to admit that sounded good. Two ski trips a year,
two new cars, a new house, retirement investments, and a vacation
house in Florida were all part of a lifestyle he and his wife had

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