You Don’t Need the Letters After Your Name, But You Do Need the Fire

Become a lifelong learner...

I went to UNH and focused on accounting and finance. By junior year, I had somehow decided I was going to start my career in public accounting (must’ve been blackout drunk when I made that decision). With that, I decided to get my CPA.

Not to make anyone happy, but because my future employer was going to give me $5,000.

That is not nearly enough for that torture, but I’m glad I did it…

To sit for the CPA exam, you need 150 credits. Most college kids finish with around 120, so it means I needed to do extra. A lot of people go the master’s route—another year at the same school, pay $50,000 for out-of-state tuition, and prep for the exam along the way.

Not me. I already had $75,000 in student loan debt, which is almost gone by the way, I was ready to leave college.

I hustled—winter classes, TA gigs, even teaching a freshman course for two year. I hit 150 credits and passed the CPA in my first year out of college.

And you know what? That moment of pride—passing the CPA—fades quickly. You forget most of the material. No one cheers for you a week later.

What lasts longer is the impact of actually doing the work. Showing up. Helping people.

After the CPA, I swore I’d never take a standardized test again.

But then I pivoted into a new field: financial advising. And that came with more tests—SIE, Series 7, Series 66, Life Insurance, Accident & Health. Five more f******* tests.

Alright, I told myself, now I’m done.

But when you get into this field—helping people solve real world problems, plan for real goals—it pulls you back in. You want to know more. Not for the certifications, but for the people you’re trying to serve better.

Which brings me to this week: I’m in a stale hotel room in Philadelphia, solo dolo, going through a four-day live CFP exam review. “Class” from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Union coffee breaks, lunch at 1pm, and ehh uber eats for dinners. Fried.

Yesterday I had to remind myself to actually go outside…

But still learning.

Why? Because I want to be better. Since I was a kid, I’ve had a permanent chip on my shoulder. I want to be a lifelong learner, someone who make a real impact.

I’m not doing this for more letters after my name. Nothing will change at my job. Most clients won’t even know or care.

I’m doing it to sharpen my knife. To gain an edge. Because the moment you stop learning, someone else passes you by.

A lot of advisors stop at the basics. They pass the minimum required tests, collect their fee, and focus on lifestyle. Nothing wrong with that.

But I’ll run circles around them.

There’s a difference between people who chase degrees and certifications vs. those who chase mastery. The first group is often bankrolled by their parents, addicted to academia, getting A’s, reading text books, essentially a human robot.

The second group just wants to get better at their craft.

And you don’t need certifications to do that.

You need hunger. Curiosity. A relentless desire to improve—not just in your career, but in your life. Health, communication, discipline, relationships, finances—it’s all connected.

Most people just go to work, come home, scroll their phones, go to bed. Rinse and repeat. Functioning zombies. I can be guilty of this as well.

You’ve got to break that pattern.

If you’re not learning, you’re falling behind.

Get a mentor. Go to a retreat. Read books. Ask better questions. Stay curious. Get uncomfortable.

You don’t need fancy degrees or an alphabet soup after your name to be successful and make a lot of money.

You just need to keep sharpening your knife.

Because it’s not crowded at the top. Most people settle. Most give up.

Me? I’m not the smartest guy in the room, never will be.

But I’ve got that chip on my shoulder and something to prove.

And that’s how I know I’ll be alright.

Remember, mediocrity is invisible until passion shows up and exposes it.

Don’t be mediocre.

While you are at it — follow by best friends IG page, Better Everday.

Disclosure: This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.