That job in the Corporate Development area of industry can look very attractive. Here’s what…
John Borrowman, CPC
Borrowman Baker, LLC
Gallatin, TN
Some people leave BV and close the door on coming back. Others leave the door open, thinking “maybe.” But what are the realistic odds of returning? The answer, as always: It depends.
If you do leave and close the door, it’s worth looking to see what your expectations were about the BV profession to begin with and how they were off the mark. There may be something to learn that can help you make a better decision next time.
If you think you might leave the door open, you might want to ask yourself: How far open? The wider you leave the door—I can always come back—the more it is worth considering whether you are chasing a better opportunity or merely a bright, shiny object (more money, maybe)?
Maybe you leave the door open in the sense that you don’t expect to return, but you wouldn’t rule it out, either. In this case, time away from the profession is the driving factor when it comes to your return.
Can you come back after two years away? Probably. After three years? Maybe. After four years. That’s when it gets dicey. Business valuation evolves quickly. Eventually, you have been gone long enough that you can’t catch up without agreeing to a starting salary closer to what you were earning previously.
A return to BV could be more straightforward if you went to a BV-adjacent role in Wealth Management or Equity Research. However, if report writing or client interface has been missing from that role, your return could be more challenging.
John Borrowman
