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**Matt In Oklahoma** · 10-24-2011, 07:19 PM

Originally posted by WiseOwl View Post

I would also go to jail for killing teenagers with my Chuck Norris like kicks also

I dont see a downside for anyone :) LOL
Naw seriously education or rather the true knowledge gained is rarely wasted. Do what you enjoy and find a skill that wont disappear as things tighten because as time has shown things will from time to time. I have gone back from time to time and my wife is currently going to a new career class now. I dont think it's a bad choice if you have the time

**WiseOwl** · 10-24-2011, 07:28 PM

I also saw construction management but with the building fiasco going on I dont want to waste my time, I would rather learn from my father in law......he was a builder for 20 years.

I am trying to find a field that wont get outsourced and will be around for the next 15-25 years...

I recently passed my Insurance Adjusters License Test but with being so greenhorn, I would not get to work until storm season either spring or winter. I have to wait for all of the processing to go through but the FIL is going to try to get me on sooner. I dont know if its something I want to do forever (even though he makes a great living at it) I know it can tide me over until I get a degree because these days applying for a job either you gotta be a bad (butt) or you gotta have the degree....I have been turned down for over 30 jobs in the last 3 months just because of the degree issue, even though I was more than qualified for the positions........I even thought about using my photoshop skills to make myself a degree but that is just unethical and I dont want to turn it into a kharmic revenge issue.....

Matt, I just want to really be a Broadway Dancer......for 6'3 235, I have some nimble feet....AHAHAHAHAH

**WiseOwl** · 10-24-2011, 07:34 PM

Oh and another thing, being only 29, I think I can still do this without getting labeled "old" by employers in which you are discriminated against...I hear that is a major problem these days..

**Matt In Oklahoma** · 10-24-2011, 07:38 PM

Originally posted by WiseOwl View Post

IMatt, I just want to really be a Broadway Dancer......for 6'3 235, I have some nimble feet....AHAHAHAHAH

The thought of you in a tutu just made a little of dinner come back up LOL

**claymore** · 10-24-2011, 07:39 PM

They say more medical jobs are needed in the future, what with all us old people just getting older! How about "selling" medical equipment? Find out what you like the most, if you can make money doing it,if there's a need for it and if you can get her done in a reasonable amount of time and if your wife is behind you go for it. Good luck, God bless !

**Bill Spies** · 10-24-2011, 09:47 PM

Well, I'm 41 and I'm in college right now. I'm shooting to be a Social Studies (that would be History) with a minor in Geography and Economics and a BA in French (...and I don't want to hear any comments about the French. LOL) So I say go for it! The one thing that I will say is that, at least up here in PA, History teachers are a dime a dozen so getting a job may be tough. Easton Area High School had ONE opening for a high school History teacher and they had (I think) 240 or so applicants. How do you narrow that down? lol. The idea that I have is I will get teacher certified in Social Studies and then take the praxis exam for French afterwards. Also, the Social Studies program only alots 6 credits each for Geography and Economics to round out the Social Studies field. I will have minors in them which are 18 credits each. So I'm hoping that may account for something being that I'll have more. Another thing that you may encounter as I have here in PA is an element of age discrimination. I've recieved some crap from students and administration over the past few years. But that may be because my school is, what I would consider, a second rate state university. Hell, all ya need there is a pulse and a bank account and you're in!
But I say go for it and do it as soon as you can! Good luck!

**Bill Foster** · 10-24-2011, 10:13 PM

Teaching doesn't have to be at high schools. I agree, if you can't smack them, don't go. Jr. Colleges are a better place. The kids aren't fully grown yet, but you can throw them out if they act up. If necessary, the campus police will remove them for you. Check the local Jr. College or Tech school nearby and see what degrees are needed for full time and part time. Sometimes the education level is different for part-time (adjunct) folks. I've been doing it now for the past 15 years. Lots of BS from administration, lots of busy work from administration, but better than what I was doing and I can retire early at 60.

**WiseOwl** · 10-24-2011, 10:39 PM

Good points about teaching guys. But with my wife doing it as well, I would hate for most of our at home conversations to be about school...lol.....and I have a friend that was gearing towards history and he didn't like the curriculum he had to follow because he knows "real" history and didnt want to lie to the kids.....but it seems like the education tides are a turnin....

I am really really diggin Environmental Engineering.....seems like an industry that has been around and will be around with all of the regulations and with companies wanting to reduce their carbon footprint as well as newer energy like solar, water, wind and geothermal.....and if Obama is around he'll shoot ya a few bucks under the table..hahah

But in all honesty, I think some sort of engineering is in the running just because of the avenues that it can sprout. I am pretty good with math, construction and applied science. And with the environmental aspect of it, it will be for a potential good cause that pays and ..........knowing solar, wind, etc power, that also doubles for good knowledge if the fecal ever hits the propeller....

**Mikeg175** · 10-24-2011, 10:51 PM

I would say go with the cash if you dont think this will be your career . Im a state licensed Public Adjuster myself . I dont know if you are talking as a public adjuster or going to work for an insurance company . There are pros and cons to both . Working for an insurance company is guaranteed money , probably benefits , but the pay is a lot less . As a public adjuster you work for yourself/company and are hired by homeowners/business owners to work for them . People believe their insurance company is their friend and that they are there to help them ( bravo sierra ) its a business to them and you paid for years ( asset ) then after a disaster your a liability and they need to cut their losses . I respond to losses ( fire, water , wind , you name it ) and I go to work for the home owner . I get called names sometimes , but after being a responder for years and watching insurance companies do the minimum possible to help homeowners I went to the dark side . I do more for homeowners then anyone out there , that's the Red Cross , local cities , the insurance company .

I make pretty decent money and I know that without my services homeowners are left in the dark and are taken advantage of by insurance companies and the contractors they use . It's a good feeling when some has had their life's belongings destroyed and are lost turn to you and then you step in and make it all better . I am there when they need help , I put them in hotels on my dime , I advance them money , I drive them around if it's needed , I pay their house rentals , I come at hours convenient for them , ( after work , on weekends ) not make them take off work for many unnecessary meetings and wait from 9-12 for me to show . I dont take 2 days to return a call , I dont lose them in the 100's of claims Im working because your area got swamped and Im overloaded . I average 30-90% more on their settlement and thats not from jacking up numbers , but from attention to details and taking the time and effort to actually sit in the house for the hours/days needed to make sure all is accounted for .
I really enjoy what I do , I was a rescue swimmer in the Navy , then a fireman for 2 years and this is about the same rewarding feeling I got then ( with a lot better pay ) . I see myself doing this a long time , it isnt physically taxing , other then standing for hours sometimes , but is mentally and emotionally straining sometimes ( you need to be their rock ) , but when its done and see the troubles lift from their shoulders and see it in their eyes , you feel rewarded .

**WiseOwl** · 10-24-2011, 11:09 PM

Mikeg, that is awesome man.
You seem to be a lot like my FIL.

I would actually (for the time being) be an independent adjuster working for one of 3 companies. And basically (well the way I see my FIL go about his business) is you get the claim info emailed over and you got out and scope then enter it in Xactimate. He is such a sought after employee, he has some good connects and a little bit of pull...which is more pressure on me to exceed.....and it being my FIL....its just super pressure...but I know I can do it.

I have actually worked with him before and once I made $1500 in a day (10 claims at $150 a pop, he helped me pay off my car and took 25% and gave me 75% of the tally). But since I was good at entering into Xactimate, my FIL and some of his coworkers used to pay me $30 a claim to enter for them since they are all computer illiterate. I did well during that hail storm session back in 09.

I was actually in Maryland last month for Irene but was only there for a week and had to come home because of some Bravo Sierra. But I enjoy it because you are in a way helping folks out when they are left in bad situations. I havent seen total devastation like my FIL saw with Katrina and Galveston, but I have saw some crushed porches and the such. And getting on those damn 10/12 pitches or even 8/12's just makes my legs shake....hahha...

But to do that while in school would work perfectly. I literally could work 2 good storms in a 3-4 month period and be good for the year financially. I have even thought about taking it over to the auto side because that is not seasonal and I have experience in Autos (ran a shop for 2 years and ran an RV dealership for a year)....

I am just glad that I am 29 and not 39 trying to make these decisions.....I kinda wish when I was in my early 20's I was more worried about the future than goofin off and traveling the country delivering antiques (which paid me very well but spent just as well)

Thanks for your input Mike.

**Mikeg175** · 10-25-2011, 12:50 AM

I dont work as an independent , I am a public adjuster , there is a slight difference . Sometimes insurance companies hire independent adjusters to work for them especially during catastrophes , these guys work for the insurance company hehe . Biggest difference is in who pays you , one the insurance company pays you and that means you are going to look out for them , as a public adjuster I work for the homeowner and I look out for my employer . We level the playing field and put the homeowner back in control . I get a % of what I settle on usually 10-15% , so it is in my interest to make sure all the details are correct . I handle all the bravo sierra , I get them more at settlement time , I am the last person the insurance companies want to see on a loss hehe , but most adjusters in our area love dealing with us . We have a honest reputation and most adjusters like it when we are on the job because we do most of their work for them . Took us years to build the trust and we make sure we keep it . We dont pad our numbers , we dont look for extras , we work a great scope and its hard to argue when its all in Xactimate . We dont work more claims then we can handle , so we dont get overloaded and can give our customers all the hands on care they need .

It is very rewarding , the hours can stink , I cant tell you how many times Im sitting down to dinner and I run out with only eating half or eating it going down the road . It is also recession proof .

The insurance companies also want to cram their 'preferred' contractors down homeowners throats . These contractors agree to work for less money and/or kick a % back to the insurance company . Its very upsetting to watch how a lot of homeowners get treated by their friendly insurance company and their contractors . I am sorry but if the area calls for 20$ a hour to do something , but you can find a guy who will do it 10$ , that says a lot about his work , there is a reason he is willing to work for a lot less then what the area usually pays . They will also let some items they find slide because they want a call next week to come out and make more money , they will not stand up and say ' hey this is wrong , we need to fix it ' . You cant have the person/company who owes you money , decide on how much , who will do the work and when it will be done . This is the only industry where that happens . Any other industry this would be called collusion and it would be stopped , but the insurance companies have too much money and that is why most states have state licensed public adjusters , it keeps the big boys in line . I always say ' dont hate the player , hate the game ' . Insurance , we call it legalized Mafia , you pay us for protection , but when you need us , you will get what we tell you can have and you better use my guys or else .

If I owed you money and hired a lawyer , you wouldn't use my lawyer , well most wouldnt lol and thats what the insurance companies want . They dont put your money in an escrow account , they invest it and like everyone , they took a beating . Then you add in a few big natural disasters and they are hurting like everyone else , so how do they make it back , they have to minimize the amount they pay out on losses . The adjusters that work for insurance companies have evaluations and if their numbers are too high , they might be looking for work elsewhere , so guess what , they try to keep their payouts low and keep their jobs . I saw how you did 10 scopes ( estimates ) in one day . Even on a smaller job ( 25k ) it still takes at least a few hours to work up numbers unless your flying through it and thats how the insurance company wants it . Just rush through it and keep the number down . I go back after someone who spends 30 minutes in a house , wants to write a check for 5k and point out the many many items he missed and next thing you know Im at 30k .

I dont usually go after small losses , my average loss is about 125k . I write about 5-6 mil a year in losses , so I have to be alot more detailed , then on a small loss and you have some minor water damage or some wind blew some siding off .

**Jeep** · 10-25-2011, 09:48 AM

You can get a AS degree in Nursing in about 2 years at the technical college and make good money. But you said you really like engineering, that being said, my oldest son is a civil engineer and is working in Waynesboro, GA. on the new nuke plant being built next to the old one. They are looking for engineer's all the time and from what he is saying, they will be more nuke plants being built in the future. The only setback would be, according to my son, would be Obama and the unions putting a stop to it by playing politics. You might want to check into something like that in the engineering field. Whatever you decide to do, good luck.

**610Alpha** · 10-25-2011, 03:35 PM

Avoid the whole History degree...they are a dime a dozen every where....Not that it isn't worthwhile...its just like someone else said in this thread that you are in a pool of a couple hundred. It is about as useful as a degree in underwater basket weaving in the market place that is. My vote Engineering route cause it sounds like you have interest there....beats doing something that you hate.

When I went back to school, I was 27, said from day one I am getting my Master's in Computer Science. 6 years later I earned it...the last 2 years I didn't take a semester off (not even summer) and during my masters course work I worked full time in my field, I got the job from doing an internship with the company, plus 8 hours of course work. I knew that I had to set myself apart from the rest of the applicants and having my Master's plus experience has certainly paid off. Now I am 36 and working in my field, which I love, just got to move around in my field to find the sweet spot :) Got to find my niche in my field...I am contemplating getting an MBA when I turn 40.

My Dad was 62 when he got his MBA so its never to late and he is now 64 and just went from being a contractor to being hired on by the contracting company. He was also a licensed plumber for a long time.

"48 Days to the Work You Love" by Dan Miller
"No More Mondays" by Dan Miller

**Grinnan Barrett** · 10-25-2011, 04:29 PM

Stay away from the for profit CAREER SCHOOLS. There is not an honest one out there. They will sign you up for Student loans from the Feds and you will owe your soul to the Government when you get through and in many cases not have an education. remember that when you go to a For Profit school like ITT Tech, Lincoln, or any of the others they get the entire tuition from the student loan program up front and you owe it all from day one. Go to Community College, or State Schools where you are not raped with costs. I have a friend whose kid just Graduated from one of the For Profit Schools where he was to learn to be an estimator for auto body work. He tried to get on with three insurance companies and he could not pass the basic tests they gave him. For profit schools are just that. they are not your friend. Once you sign up they have their money or they have your name on a note.

Go talk to companies about what training they want you to have. watch out for companies who run their own schools and charge you to work for them. Good companies will give you straight answers about where to get your education. In case you are asking I was director of special programs for a community college with over 35,000 students. This is the advice I would give to my kids and grandkids.

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Off Survival Subject, Just throwing this question out there........

Off Survival Subject, Just throwing this question out there........

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