[marcus0x62]

What is it — specifically - you like about the high comp? Is it a sense of feeling personal security, proof of being valued, the desire to be able to buy expensive things on a whim? It may be easier to give up the money if you really identify what it is doing for you and ask yourself if a) you still need it and if so b) if there is a different way you can meet that need.

[anp]

Not OP but have had some analogous thoughts. Compared to the state institutions and startups I worked at before, FAANG-scale comp and perks literally changed my life, having grown up rather poor. I can afford to save for retirement while also attending to my health, I can afford a personal trainer to help me stay on track in my goals, I can afford a cleaner to keep my personal space tidy when I struggled for years to do so on my own, I have multiple food options every day which are healthy and “free”, I can afford bodywork when joint pain gets too much, I can attend arts and music events without considering the cost, and I can send money to family and friends when they’re struggling (among many other benefits!). I also splurge on a lot of dumb stuff but even reducing that spending I’d struggle to maintain the “important” parts of my current standard of living at a non-megacorp.

That said, I view money now as a way to buy my own disability accommodations. Not everyone has that need.

[ldjkfkdsjnv]

I had the same exact experience. The money really does make life easier. I am healthier for it.

[marcus0x62]

I agree 100%. Now, let’s say you’re in the OP’s position and don’t want to work for FAANG-style companies forever. In order to escape and not lose the true benefit you’re getting from the money, you need to answer a few questions and make a few decisions:

1) How much money do you need, on an on-going basis, to maintain your level of comfort/improved health/whatever you’ve been spending the money on? Think of this in terms of annual expenditure. Include all of your livings expenses in this.

1a) What can you do to decrease your annual income needs? This might be something big like relocating away from an HCOL area, removing superfluous spending (i.e., things that aren’t making you happy/healthier/etc.,) or optimizing current spending (do you have a big cable package that you don’t use, do you need a new smartphone every year or could you upgrade every 2 - 3 years, etc.) Take this away from the number is step 1) and you get variable A. Example: 150,000/yr.

2) What do you want to do post-FAANG, if anything, and how much will it pay? This number is B. Example: $75,000/year.

3) What are you current investment assets? This number is C. Example: $1,000,000.

4) How much investment income could they produce? For round number purposes, in the current investment environment, maybe start with a 3% withdrawal rate. This number is D. Example: 3%

   A.      B.         C.      D.

150000 - 75000 — (1,000,000 * 3%) = 45,000.

         D

45,000 / 3% = $1,500,000.

In this example, you need to save/invest an additional $1.5M for your plan to be realistic, or change your expenses or post-FAANG income to alter the timeline. However long it will take to grow your assets by $1.5M — through additional savings from your FAANG income and returns on existing investments — is how long you need to stick it out at your FAANG job, or an equivalent high-stress/high-pay job — before jumping ship without suffering any loss from the benefit the high income provides.