It is so blessing that I read these posts containing so much...

It is so blessing that I read these posts containing so much compassion, love and wisdom. I have been working at universities and recently doing PHD with full scholarship at a group eight university. A different industry than sexythang but more or less I had similar feeling as his. I have seen first hand that young academics work very long hours trying to publish and step up the ladder yet they are years away from being able to make a decent living let along achieving financial freedom. I am talking about those elites graduated from the world's top universities such as north-west university and connell university. These people have high IQs and have the best qualifications but been constrained by their academic job they struggle to buy a house in the area they wanted in MEL when they moved from US two years or so ago. This is very discouraging. I use to want to become a full academic in future but I have since changed my mind. I will keep it as my hobby instead as I love interact with my students.

Tiglath - I have been doing exactly what you suggested - investing more time everyday learning all the skills and knowledge, be it TA or FA, to be more of a full-time investor one day. I find this learning process is easier and more enjoyable compared to PHD research I have been doing, not to mention the potential rewards (of course that come with the higher risk but it can be managed).