What if the skills you’ve spent years developing in academia are worth far more than you’ve been led to believe?

In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi sits down with Matt Goren, former psychology professor and current Chief Strategy Officer at Danko Education, to talk about the financial realities of academia, career transitions, and why academics often underestimate both their value and their earning potential.

Matt shares his journey from graduate school during the Great Recession to teaching at UC Berkeley and the University of Georgia before ultimately transitioning into the financial planning education industry. Along the way, he reflects on the hidden opportunity cost of spending years in graduate school, the financial wake up call that changed his entire approach to money, and how one career change ultimately doubled his income, then doubled it again.

More importantly, Matt explains why leaving academia doesn’t mean abandoning your passion for education. Instead, it can mean finding new ways to teach, mentor, and make an impact while building greater financial security and flexibility.

We also explore why so many academics underestimate their transferable skills, how project management, critical thinking, and analytical problem solving are incredibly valuable outside the university, and why increasing your income is often one of the most effective ways to improve your financial future.

Whether you’re committed to academia or wondering what opportunities exist beyond it, this conversation offers an encouraging reminder that your PhD is more than a credential. It’s a skill set that can open far more doors than you might realize.

Say Hello to Matt: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjgoren