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There is no ceiling in the private sector. You had the opportunity to work harder and go farther. You could have shopped yourself around, taken courses, become more skilled; you had many choices. You could have left the private sector like your friend Ed who had his eye on the future. Government employees have grades and caps but in return for the limitations on their earnings they've traditionally had good benefits.
My husband retired from the government, he has an MBA, and back in the Clinton years when everyone was making double or triple what he was making in the stock market or the dot com industry, he was making $65,000. We had more fights over this and his answer was always the same, "You'll thank me when I retire." And I do! Every day!
So very true especially now. You get a statement every year and/or can calculate your benefits on line. I was also a member of SS and got my benefit statements from them. I could also use a calculator and other programs as they became available and get a guess about my investments down the road. The private sector didn't provide as visible a path as the public sector but retirement income shouldn't sneak up on anyone private or public sector.
I knew in the 70s that a government job was a great benefit to me. I could have worked for private business while the pipeline in Alaska was being built, as my brother did, and make 3 or 4 times as much. But I always preferred slow and steady to the fast and crash type of situation.
As a result, after 35 years of work, I can retire. Never earned what I could have as a CPA but instead took the pension and health insurance. It is all about choices. I cannot begin to count the number of people over the years that told those of us working for the government we were stupid for making that choice.
I knew in the 70s that a government job was a great benefit to me. I could have worked for private business while the pipeline in Alaska was being built, as my brother did, and make 3 or 4 times as much. But I always preferred slow and steady to the fast and crash type of situation.
As a result, after 35 years of work, I can retire. Never earned what I could have as a CPA but instead took the pension and health insurance. It is all about choices. I cannot begin to count the number of people over the years that told those of us working for the government we were stupid for making that choice.
I hear you.
I am the youngest of four siblings, and the first to get a pension.
I have been berated many times for my choices during the past 30 years, not so much any more.
Everyone here seems to think that it's a choice whether to join the public or private sector. Not everyone has the choice. First of all, where I live, due to affirmative action laws, it is almost impossible for a white male to get a public sector job. Secondly, at least in my field, the government only hires people directly out of college to entry level jobs. Since they were not hiring when I graduated from college, it was not an option for me, and unfortunately never will be. So I am stuck in the private sector, even though it wasn't really my choice.
Everyone here seems to think that it's a choice whether to join the public or private sector. Not everyone has the choice. First of all, where I live, due to affirmative action laws, it is almost impossible for a white male to get a public sector job. Secondly, at least in my field, the government only hires people directly out of college to entry level jobs. Since they were not hiring when I graduated from college, it was not an option for me, and unfortunately never will be. So I am stuck in the private sector, even though it wasn't really my choice.
It's a choice to make the best of the hand you are dealth with in life and not go comparing your situations to others. That's the choice we all are given.
It's a choice to make the best of the hand you are dealth with in life and not go comparing your situations to others. That's the choice we all are given.
Yes, but you can't assume that everyone working in the private sector chose to be there.
Yes, but you can't assume that everyone working in the private sector chose to be there.
I didn't. I wanted to work for the government too but I was never able to get a job with them. I have a college degree too but somehow it never worked out. My sister, however, did got a job as a letter carrier. She now has a very nice pension and medical benefits. I say good for her. I had to retire on a disability on much less but I never thought it was fair or unfair. It's just the way it was.
What I am trying to say, is that making comparisions is silly and counterproductive. Am I making comparisons? Of course not. Life doesn't work that way. The OP needs to realize that or he will be unhappy the rest of his life.
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