Want to move back to Milwaukee (Mequon, Union: insurance, house, transfer) - Wisconsin (WI) - City-Data Forum

MomtoMal · 08-11-2010, 04:09 PM

My husband and I moved to Chicago after we graduated from college 7 years ago. I worked as an accountant up to 2.5 years ago when we had our first child. My husband became an options trader on the floor of the CBOE 7 years ago. We moved to Gurnee to be closer to family when we started a family, but we are finding the commute for my husband to be a killer. We are now looking at moving to a closer suburb to Chicago, but the prices just seem way too high for what you get. I have always wanted to move back to the Milwaukee area, but my husband is leery of moving back because he feels his skills are not transferrable to anything up there. I guess I am looking for someone to tell me we are wrong on that assumption. Are there jobs he could do within the trading/finance realm in Milwaukee? Any other advice would be appreciated. Thanks in avance.

Milwaukee City · 08-11-2010, 08:14 PM

Actually there are a lot of financial jobs up in Milwaukee mainly with mutual fund and insurance based companies. Stark Investments, RBC Milwaukee, Northwestern Mutual, Heartland Advisors, Robert W Baird, Nicholas Company just to name a few and all the big boys have a presence in Milwaukee as well. As far as trading? I am not sure. He could still take the 1.5hr long train ride into Union Station everyday, there is only 3 stops on that line vs 8000 on a metra line.

MomtoMal · 08-12-2010, 06:35 AM

Thanks for the recommendations. I was aware of a few of those companies but not all of them. As far as the train, we have looked into that. Problem being, the train gets in too late for when he needs to be there. Still, we will check out those company's websites and see what we find. Thanks again!

ccjarider · 08-12-2010, 06:52 AM

While true that Chicago housing costs are higher - keep in mind that you will recoup that cost someday when you sell and leave Chicago area. Quality of life via decent commute is also worth something.

When we moved here from Milwaukee, I resigned myself to fact that we had to pay some more (Not all that much though) in terms of monthly outlay.

In reality, life is not worse because we paid $50-60K more for same house we had in WI.

MomtoMal · 08-12-2010, 08:24 AM

You are right ccjarider as far as recouping our money in Chicago markets, but for us to live in a really nice house with a pool Mequon it would cost $450K. The same house in Glenview would easily be $750k. Both are close to Chicago/Milwaukee, but the price difference is killing me. Oh well I guess we are stuck.

capoeira · 08-12-2010, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MomtoMal

You are right ccjarider as far as recouping our money in Chicago markets, but for us to live in a really nice house with a pool Mequon it would cost $450K. The same house in Glenview would easily be $750k.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MomtoMal

My husband became an options trader on the floor of the CBOE 7 years ago.

750K is chump change for a good trader. That will be about 2 weeks trading profit if you are loaded up on put options the next time the market crashes.
I suggest moving much closer to the CBOE so your husband can focus on trading profitably instead of enduring a grueling commute.

43north87west · 08-12-2010, 04:18 PM

You're fortunate that your husband has a good job. Why rock the boat right now? Milwaukee may have opportunities, but I don't think he will be making the money he makes now, so if you save money on a house but have less money, it's not really doing you any good. The shorter commute would be a plus in Milwaukee, but if you are immediately looking to Mequon or one of the farther suburbs, you aren't doing him any favors. IMO, I'd do what it takes to get a workable commute for your husband, even if you have to downsize or live in an older house. I'm biased; I think that time is much more valuable than any house or location, and I'd rather live in a lesser home close to work, than live in a grand home that I never get to see. Some people think the opposite. It's really a personal choice.

I guess to answer your question, based on the details you provided, I would not make the move to Milwaukee. Chicago is practically next to Milwaukee anyway--you can visit on a whim any time.

MomtoMal · 08-12-2010, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 43north87west

You're fortunate that your husband has a good job. Why rock the boat right now? Milwaukee may have opportunities, but I don't think he will be making the money he makes now, so if you save money on a house but have less money, it's not really doing you any good. The shorter commute would be a plus in Milwaukee, but if you are immediately looking to Mequon or one of the farther suburbs, you aren't doing him any favors. IMO, I'd do what it takes to get a workable commute for your husband, even if you have to downsize or live in an older house. I'm biased; I think that time is much more valuable than any house or location, and I'd rather live in a lesser home close to work, than live in a grand home that I never get to see. Some people think the opposite. It's really a personal choice.

I guess to answer your question, based on the details you provided, I would not make the move to Milwaukee. Chicago is practically next to Milwaukee anyway--you can visit on a whim any time.

I know you are right. Sometimes it's just hard to fathom spending the money when where you grew up is so much more reasonable. I have two children now, and I know that my family in WI would love to see them more, but if my husband has a job and likes it, we should just stay put. I was really just hoping there would be something he could do in Milwaukee that was similar. Oh well! Thanks for all the advice anyway.