Why Andrew Ringler left finance for roofing

Ringler, now 29, began selling roofs while waiting for his consulting role to start in August. His college roommate, now a business partner, helped him get the job. Roofing commissions could take months to arrive because payment depended on completing a job and collecting from the customer. When several payments came in at the end of September, Ringler realized he was earning more from sales than he would in his corporate job.

He continued selling roofs on the side after starting work as a consultant. The office meant long days at a cubicle; roofing sales gave him more control over his schedule and time outdoors. In the summer of 2020, he left finance to work in roofing full-time. Friends and mentors questioned the move, and his father, a CPA and financial adviser, was initially hesitant. Ringler said he was giving up security, benefits and 401(k) matching, but felt young enough to take a chance on himself.

For the first six months, he thought he might return to finance after a year or two. Instead, continued success kept him in the industry. He sometimes worked 80- to 90-hour weeks, and said his income reflected the hours. The work also gave him early experience in leadership and mentoring.

Last year, after more than six years with his previous roofing company, Ringler split off and became co-owner of Pilot Roofing with two other owners. The Michigan-based company has three full-time employees and is recruiting. His role still involves data analysis and spreadsheets, but he also works with customers, employees and insurance adjusters in the community where he grew up.

Roofing brings less structure than finance, with weather, material availability and prices outside his control. Ringler says he values the flexibility and more casual relationships, and wants to challenge the stigma that trades work signals a lack of educational or professional success. “There's a certain level of prestige that comes with finance,” he said, “but I've learned that prestige and personal fulfillment aren't necessarily the same thing.”