Thanks for the your interesting post and I applaud your friend for getting a new job at age 64. That's not easy.
The main question for me: is this time different? Ever since I joined ( or started posting on ) the NR Forum, there have many posts about the demise of our industry, warnings to new notaries about the business, the increased competition and falling fees. I remember when I genuinely made an effort to start in the business ( 2013 ish) , I would read NR posts that would warn me to get "out of the business" while you still have time. It was scary. It was so discouraging. I was so confused.
My first three years, I did just fine. No I was not around for the boom days. But I did fine. No complaints admisdt many posts about the world coming to an end. Then I left the business in 2016 to become a mortgage broker. I hated it. More money? Yes. And after giving it a shot for 18 months, I finally decided to comeback to NSA land in August/September 2017 and started over.
The jury is still out. My biggest and most unknown fear is the all digital closing. I have been hearing about that for years. I have never been asked to perform any sort digital, eclose, remote close, hybrid close, however you want to label it. I can't quantify that risk. Otherwise, my main job is marketing, marketing, marketing. The "signing" component is easy.
I would say to a younger person do not even think about becoming a NSA. Join a real company, get a salary, bonus, paid vacation, sick pay, profit sharing, matching 4 01K, ESOP, defined benefit, health insurance, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage, paid time off, sabbaticals, education, etc.
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