Trade school / Apprencticeship in Mid-30s?

[Daniel Whitmore]

I’m currently in a transition period in my career where I am looking for a new opportunity that will generate higher income. I’m also in the process of doing some soul searching and creating some concrete, long term goals that will allow me to achieve financial freedom by age 50.

I’m worked corporate 9-5 jobs that have paid well but I’ve hated all of them. I’ve jumped around in my career doing all kinds of random jobs, chasing new opportunities that felt exciting at the time only to find out the work wasn’t fulfilling and I felt out of place.

As I think about my long term goals, I want to incorporate and consider my next career move, so that it compliments and supports my goals (pertaining to real estate and financial freedom) and helps me achieve them.

Will that said, based on the fact that I don’t want to go back to a corporate W2 9-5 job, I am considering an apprenticeship or trade school in carpentry, plumbing or the like. Is this a bad idea? Am I too old to do this? I have no experience. For anyone who has graduated from a trade school or completed an apprenticeship, would you recommend?

My goal would be to make at least $60K once finished so that I can 1) save 20-30% of income, 2) obtain loans and 3) use the new skills to help with repairs /rehab.