Career change into Financial Planning / CFP

[Zac Kucharek]

Hello,

I have considered a career change into financial planning. I did not know of this career in college so I did not go this route and am now in a different career. I am currently full time employment in a reliable position. But have recently thought about the longer term picture and my passions don’t align with my career even though the job is comfortable and technically what many would call a great spot to be as a Physical Therapist. I love helping people and truly do enjoy my job, but I am already at a young age topped out for compensation and in this field with insurance reimbursement structure the way it is, I am likely to not move up much at all in the future unfortunately.

I have always loved personal finance and after accruing ungodly amounts of student loans and navigating paying them off all while efficiently investing in the stock market as well as now real estate I have not only realized how strong my interests are in this area but also my personal skills align in financial planning and personal finance. I am constantly hungry to learn and do more in this realm and I have considered the CFP route for awhile.
Problem being it would be a large pay cut initially I presume and would need over 2years of full time work in financial planning to qualify for the CFP.  

I am wondering if anyone out there is a financial planner and/or CFP and has any insight on the situation as I think about it.