I’m a financial planner with a $78k base, and my commissions are all over the place. Some months I’ll pull in $12k, other months it’s closer to $1k. It’s exhausting trying to budget when I don’t know what’s coming in. Lately I’ve been wondering if I’d be better off with a higher, more stable salary and zero commission. Good move? Or is this just a “grass is greener” moment?

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Learn to live off $90k and put the rest in savings for a while. Then you’ll have a cushion and life won’t feel as stressful.

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Oh the irony…

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If you’ve gotta squint at your bank account each month, that’s not freedom, it’s a trap dressed as potential. You’re a financial planner. Use your own expertise. What would you tell a client in your exact position? Probably: stability buys mental space. Commission can be great, but if it’s killing your budget and your weekends? It might be time to trade up.

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Exactly this. I wouldn’t let my clients live on a balloon salary. Always budget on low end

Sounds like you need to budget for the lowest monthly bonus and live that life. Also look at your process inconsistent monthly production with swings that wild indicate inconsistent behaviors. Finally it sounds like you would be happy if you just made 5-7k bonus monthly consistently. Going to be hard to find that total salary outside of upper management

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Switching to a stable salary can bring peace of mind and easier budgeting, but you might miss the upside of big commission months. It’s worth crunching the numbers: What’s your average take-home now vs. a guaranteed salary? Sometimes stability is worth a little sacrifice, but only if it feels right for your stress levels and goals.

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I chose a lower salary but a stable salary. I like guaranteed money as I am not the aggressive sales person.

Really depends on your preference and personal circumstances. I personally like stability, but that is because I am the sole earner in my family. If my husband worked I might be more apt to have a more variable salary.

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Stability over potential any day

Just budget based on your base salary. Better to do that to avoid lifestyle creep anyways

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Def try to live like you make your base salary. That way anything extra is a plus

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Are you not building recurring rev?

This is highly dependent on what kind of salary you can pull in and what your avg commission is over a year.

The age old what’s better. Commission vs salary

I would recommend living off the low end budget that way high earning months are spread out further.

Steady salary is the way to go, you’ll likely get a bonus that way as well

Budget around your base and try to average the commission over 1-2-3 years. The extra will always be extra and can be invested, saved or used as discretionary expenses.

A stable salary does bring peace of mind but as many said, you might sacrifice upside. Never assume you'll make the same amount of commissions, specifically in periods as now

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