I asked her what types of jobs she was interested in, at which point she floored me with:
“I want to work in a mid-size or large public accounting firm located in midtown Manhattan.  I want audit experience so I have the right foundation in accounting, and become a CPA.  I’m starting my Masters in Taxation in the fall, and would like the firm to support and ideally pay for that.  I’d like to transfer to the firm’s tax department after 2 years, get my Certified Financial Planner certificate, and develop into a tax and financial planning professional for high net worth individuals.”

All this and she was at most 22 years old!  I asked her how she knew all this, and she said, “I want to do what my dad does, he’s a tax & financial planner and business manager for entertainers and athletes.  It seems interesting, almost fun, and he rakes it in.”

That explained it, the father (aka my client) advised her, she listened and everyone benefits.  Good for her to have a plan for a solid future, good for him to safeguard his daughter, and good for me to have a candidate who knows what he/she wants and is qualified (or will be) for that.  Truthfully, it doesn’t happen often.  I estimate less than 5% of her age peers have such a clearly developed plan.  It’s refreshing when it happens.

The points for today are:

•    Financial and tax planning for individuals and flow-through companies is one of my favorite 3 or 4 recommendations for best accounting-related careers over the next 20-30 years.  It’s partly a reaction to Madoff and all the financial services scandals, partly due to the increasing acceptance that social security will eventually have to be cut back, and partly simple demographics of the country’s large baby boomer population getting older with big piles of cash chips.  Whatever the reason, there is a real need for quality tax and financial planners who can be trusted.  It’s a hot hiring area, and it’s going to get hotter!

•    Just like our star pupil, the earlier you identify what you want from your career, the easier it is to obtain the right experience and education to make it happen.  Do this, get that, do that, none of it a stretch, just a methodical, organized plan.  Just do it, as they say.

•    Most people don’t know what they want to do, try one thing, try another etc. until maybe they hit on what they want.  Career by trial and error!  

•    The earlier you identify your career goals, the better in terms of saved time, effort and cost.  If you’re truly stuck in uncertainty, hire a career coach to administer one or more career assessments, evaluate the results and work through the various alternatives with you.

Good luck!