What one major decision in your life would you change and what do you believe would have been the consequences?

[gamecockcat]

For me, it would most likely be go out of state (probably to Vandy) for college and major in finance. As it was, I stayed in Lexington, got a BSEE and, after 10 years, got into financial services/advising. But, I had the grades and qualifications to get into Vandy (possibly Duke, too) but thought I wanted to be an engineer. My guess is with a Vandy finance degree and the connections I'd have made there, I could've ended up with a private equity firm, an M&A firm or in corporate finance and a lot more money than I do now. Would never have wanted to be on Wall Street so that wouldn't have happened but I could definitely see myself as an M&A guy for a big bank or private equity firm if I'd made a different choice way back in 1981.

Of course, I met my wife at UK and have two outstanding kids (and 1 grandkid) so all of that would have changed. Overall, I've been lucky and had a pretty darn good life (with 40 years to go, I hope). But, I knew within a couple of years that engineering wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Would I have been happier? Who knows? Funny how one relatively minor decision made at 18-years of age sends you down a very different path than if you'd chosen something else.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Wish I bought my first duplex back in 2010, when the economy had bottomed out, instead of waiting until 2018. Outside of a better degree (I also wish I continued with a double major in CIS/Finance instead of just 1 major in CIS), I don't think there is any single better financial decision I've made. Buying one in 2010 would have been when houses had bottomed out and interest rates were in the 3's. The home today would have been double in price, maybe more.. but more importantly, it would have started me on a path to financial freedom that much sooner. Maybe would have owned 3-4 homes by now instead of just 1.

Definitely wish I was a little smarter with money in my early 20's, overall. That's something I would tell anyone at that age: make the right decision in your 20's and you could be set for life.

 

[jtrue28]

Computer programming instead of accounting and finance. Dafuq was I thinking.

 

[vhcat70]

Had the chance to buy low & would probably have made $2-3M. Oh well. We're fine.

Decided to pitch vs. catch. Great arm but couldn't hit. As pitcher, it wouldn't have mattered.

 

[Leroy Carr]

Marrying my ex wife. Single life has been so much better these of couple of years. I do what I want. If I want the to thermostat set on 70 I just do it. No arguments about being cold. If I want to go surfing I buy my plane tickets and head out.

 

[LordEggForgotHisPassword_rivals]

ive been an attorney for more than two decades. i still dream of never going to law school and doing something interesting. like anything. else. at all.

 

[roguemocha]

At least you own that

 

[GeraldV]

ive been an attorney for more than two decades. i still dream of never going to law school and doing something interesting. like anything. else. at all.

This is my 25th year of the legal practice and every day I wish I’d done something else.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Computer programming instead of accounting and finance. Dafuq was I thinking.

See, I'd say the opposite. Not that I'm a programmer level of salary, I am one step below as a System Engineer. Programmers only make a little bit more. You're topping out at $150k in most cities as a decent-but-not-brilliant Software engineer. Maybe you can get to $200k if you're in a fortune 500 company in a big city.. but you're kind of capped there, unless you go into management (And that's not an easy thing for techies).

But a finance degree seems to be where the real money can come from. I got several old fellow graduates who are VPs of banks in the greater NYC area, probably making half a mil or some ****.. and all of them were Finance majors. And the ones who didn't get into banking, all seem to be doing SOMETHING with finance. Investing, sales, etc. All those guys and girls are making serious bank right now.

 

[WildcatfaninOhio]

Wouldn’t change a damn thing. Sure, I’ve made mistakes, used bad judgement, made bad choices, and at times behaved like a jackass. But every one of those things have led me to where I am now. Happy, healthy, happy, madly in love with a smart, funny, sexy woman, happy, debt-free, and happy. Did I mention happy?

 

[gamecockcat]

Interesting posts re: law profession. Father, older brother (just retired), sister in law and brother in law all have law degrees and it was expected that I'd go that route, also. Just never appealed to me for whatever reason. My dad LOVED it and would have practiced until he was on his death bed (did piddle with it even up into his mid- to late-70s). Brother - did very well but wasn't madly in love with it. BIL - never practiced but used it to get a much better position working with state pensions so worked out for him. SIL - practiced some but I never got the impression she loved doing it (her father also had a law degree). With the comments above, I'm guessing neither of you have been contacted to make an endorsement of your law school/profession .

 

[IdaCat]

I sometimes regret not marrying that flaming nympho I dated in college. But I doubt I'd be happier or as successful.

 

[80 Proof]

I sometimes regret not marrying that flaming nympho I dated in college. But I doubt I'd be happier or as successful.

What was his name? Was he really flamboyant, or just slightly flaming?

 

[GeraldV]

Interesting posts re: law profession. Father, older brother (just retired), sister in law and brother in law all have law degrees and it was expected that I'd go that route, also. Just never appealed to me for whatever reason. My dad LOVED it and would have practiced until he was on his death bed (did piddle with it even up into his mid- to late-70s). Brother - did very well but wasn't madly in love with it. BIL - never practiced but used it to get a much better position working with state pensions so worked out for him. SIL - practiced some but I never got the impression she loved doing it (her father also had a law degree). With the comments above, I'm guessing neither of you have been contacted to make an endorsement of your law school/profession .

Very true. I’ve written several letters of recommendations for people but before doing so, I always try like hell to talk them out of going to law school.

 

[funKYcat75]

If it didn’t have any effect on what my life is now, i.e., kids, wife, etc. there’s only one thing.

Definitely wish I was a little smarter with money in my early 20's, overall. That's something I would tell anyone at that age: make the right decision in your 20's and you could be set for life.

 

[IdaCat]

What was his name? Was he really flamboyant, or just slightly flaming?

My bad, I guess. I didn't know "flaming" implied gay, lol. HER name was... Ah never mind.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

If it didn’t have any effect on what my life is now, i.e., kids, wife, etc. there’s only one thing.

I just didn't spend wisely. Didn't open my 401k until I was like 25, and didn't do a Roth IRA until I was like 29. Had a $500 car payment in 2014 when I was only bringing home like $3k/month.. absurd bar bills, drinking high end bourbon.. Just dumb ****. Those first few years for compounding interest are huge.

 

[80 Proof]

My bad, I guess. I didn't know "flaming" implied gay, lol. HER name was... Ah never mind.

You've never heard of flaming being a reference to being homosexuality?

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=flaming

 

[IdaCat]

You've never heard of flaming being a reference to being homosexuality?

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=flaming

Of course. Just didn't know it was used exclusively for that. I can't keep up with this ****.

 

[warrior-cat]

I would not have pushed the acting battalion commander back in his chair (witnesses were there) after he got up and threatened me. Physically attacking a battalion commander acting or otherwise is not a good idea. Busted in rank (SGT to specialist), loss of half pay for 2 months, restricted to the barracks and extra duty for 2 months. Wife was pregnant and due with twins at the time. Battalion commander came back a week later and suspended the restriction because I needed to be with my wife. The major I pushed and I did not get along. It was more of a slam back in his chair.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

.

Marrying my ex wife. Single life has been so much better these of couple of years. I do what I want. If I want the to thermostat set on 70 I just do it. No arguments about being cold. If I want to go surfing I buy my plane tickets and head out.

This is my answer as well. Basically, women are my biggest regret. Lots of money and time wasted. Juice isn’t worth the squeeze.

 

[Laparkafan]

You've never heard of flaming being a reference to being homosexuality?

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=flaming

Cut him some slack maybe she was a red head and flaming was in reference to the carpet

 

[IdaCat]

Hot. She was "hot". Is it still PC to use that term for females or has it been appropriated for the gays too. LOL.

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

I wish I never shot that guy for snoring too loud.

 

[UK 82]

I probably would not have majored in business. Wore a suit and tie for decades and lived in an office. Too much travel as well. I would have much preferred an outdoor job like a lumberjack. I'd sleep all night and I'd work all day.

 

[Mdnerd]

Marrying a second time. Didn’t learn my lesson the first time. I’m well aware I’m the problem and I’m just one of those people that don’t do well in marriage. Just wish I’d figured that out before now. Love my kids to death though.

 

[christophero]

Being a Bengal fan but that seems to be on the upswing lately.

 

[80 Proof]

Hot. She was "hot". Is it still PC to use that term for females or has it been appropriated for the gays too. LOL.

I think that can mean she had an STD

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

You've never heard of flaming being a reference to being homosexuality?

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=flaming

THANK YOU. This is why I don't eat gay Cheetos.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

Marrying a second time. Didn’t learn my lesson the first time. I’m well aware I’m the problem and I’m just one of those people that don’t do well in marriage. Just wish I’d figured that out before now. Love my kids to death though.

We're on the same wavelength.

 

[Get Buckets]

Marrying a second time. Didn’t learn my lesson the first time. I’m well aware I’m the problem and I’m just one of those people that don’t do well in marriage. Just wish I’d figured that out before now. Love my kids to death though.

You get hit with alimony twice?

 

[Ryan Lemonds Hair]

I wish I would have borrowed $10,000 in invested in Apple stock when it first started up.

 

[Mdnerd]

You get hit with alimony twice?

Nope. First wife went batsh!t crazy, or already was and I missed it. Made it easy to just blame it all on her and try again. That was a financial freebie. Still with the second wife. She’s a good woman and I’m not going anywhere. Not a great marriage though. We both bring baggage. Great mom, ehh wife, and she’d definitely say the same about me as a husband.

 

[gamecockcat]

I wish I would have borrowed $10,000 in invested in Apple stock when it first started up.

Should've had Lt. Dan invest in a fruit company and then you wouldn't have to worry about money every again. One less thing.

 

[Deeeefense]

Decision: Not cleaning out my bank account and dropping it all on Rich Strike at last years Derby.

Consequences: I would be sipping umbrella drinks in Barbados right now instead of pounding the keyboard.

 

[Laparkafan]

I wish I would have borrowed $10,000 in invested in Apple stock when it first started up.

My brother did this in the 90s (10k in apple and 10k in cisco) and when there was the big tech stock dip around 2000 he freaked out and cashed out so this is probably his too.

 

[Deeeefense]

ive been an attorney for more than two decades. i still dream of never going to law school and doing something interesting. like anything. else. at all.

This is my 25th year of the legal practice and every day I wish I’d done something else.

How so? I went into business and it worked out great for me as a small biz owner x 2 but I always enjoyed the UCC law classes I had and seriously considered law school instead of an MBA.

 

[Catman100]

Navy at 18 instead of college.
Just had no idea what I wanted to do and didn't want to waste money.
Should have gone to college or stayed in at least 20 years.

 

[JonathanW_rivals]

I could post it here. But then I would have to hunt down every one of you and "silence you". Let's just say, it involves a woman (so of course lies and deception), lots of $, and would "floor" every one of you (been told it would make one hell of a book).

 

[GeraldV]

How so? I went into business and it worked out great for me as a small biz owner x 2 but I always enjoyed the UCC law classes I had and seriously considered law school instead of an MBA.

The practice of law stinks mostly because other lawyers stink and you have to deal with them every day. And if you are remotely successful, you have a bunch of cases, and every night you wake up and think of something else you need to do on one of them, or wondering if you forgot to file document x, etc.