In this episode of Academics and Their Money, we talk with Janine Sam—a former professor turned financial planner—about her transition from academia to industry, and all the financial lessons she picked up along the way. Janine opens up about the realities of academic workload, the myth of flexibility in higher ed, and what ultimately drove her to pivot careers.

We also dive into:

• What it’s like to teach and live abroad (including tax surprises!)
• Her experience negotiating salaries in both academia and industry
• How she weighed the cost of a PhD against her future earnings
• The role of mentorship in making career and financial decisions
• Her best and worst recent purchases (spoiler: toddler shoes and better coffee)

Janine’s story is a great listen for anyone wondering whether to stay in academia, make a shift, or just be more intentional about how money fits into their career choices.

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If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/.

Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.