[baron816]

How about you try to transition to being a product manager? Lot’s of MBAs become product managers, but I know at least at my company, SWEs have switched over to becoming PMs. What they do is pretty different depending on what company you’re working for or where you are in the company, but it definitely keeps you tied in to the core metrics of the organization and frequently working with upper management. They often earn more than engineers too.

[mikekchar]

I have to second this suggestion. School is great and if you want to go back to school then I don't want to stop you. However, if it's a means to an end, then when you are in your thirties with a kid I'm not sure it's going to pay back. "I'm a programmer that wants to be a PM/PGM" is a great way to get into business without having to pay upfront. Certain kinds of dev management will get you there too. If you don't mind doing dev for a couple more years, you can try moving to a big company and climb the "greasy ladder" for a while -- Get a lead dev position, move into a dev manager position and then start working your way up to executive level. To be honest, experience is going to pay much better than education in these kinds of scenarios anyway.