In this video, I’m breaking down a career decision I made in my early 20s that I genuinely regret: leaving CBA (Commonwealth Bank) to join KPMG. At the time, I bought into the “Big 4 name on your CV” hype because everyone around me—lecturers, tutors, friends—kept saying it would be my golden ticket. But the reality was brutal: I went from a $60,000 base at CBA (plus super and a bonus) to a $50,000 starting salary at KPMG, and even by year three I was still below what I earned in my first year at CBA. The biggest lesson wasn’t just about salary—it was about opportunity cost and financial freedom. In banking, what you learn is directly relevant to real life (mortgages, credit, lending), and the income trajectory can be much faster. I walk through how staying at CBA could’ve put me in a position to buy investment properties earlier—potentially three properties before 23—because property (land) appreciates and time in the market matters. My takeaway: don’t choose status—choose the path that gives you the best financial return, earlier cash flow, and the ability to invest sooner.