Like the title says I'm 33 YO looking to make a change. Some background and context.... I don't have a masters or bachelor's, just a liberal arts associates. I was a punk in highschool and a delinquent through my early 20s. Graduated almost last in my highschool. I mean 244 out of ~260. University wasnt much of an option. No money, parents for damn sure couldn't help and I wasn't comfortable taking loans.

Got straight to work when I was 15 but pissed away most of it through my early 20s. Got my shit together around 25 and started working in construction/ engineering / renewable energy/ project management. Got a few certificates and kept going. Always liked engineering and technical concepts. I've spent the last 10 years working as a project manager, Sr. Pm, program manager, Director etc. . Currently making 200k a year base in sf bay area.

During my career I started going back to school at CC. Just a class or 3 at a time. Covered Marco econ, micro econ, managerial accounting, financial accounting blah blah... The basics.. finished the whole calc I,II,III Lin alg. And diff eq. Courses. Thought I was going to be an engineer 🙄. I know a good bit about the economy, stocks and a little about options but I'm not wiz. GPA is 2.9... I goofed a lot early in my associates degree journey.

The advice I'm looking for: 0. Will a bachelor's degree really help propel me into higher incomes and a better life?

1. Does it make sense to take time off and stop making money to go to university just to go to a better more prestigious school assuming I can even get in? Berkeley? Santa Clara?

2. Would a better route be to just get an online bachelor's? If yes, from where and in what? I'm debating attending ASU online for econ. - wish they had a finance program.

3. If I get an asu degree what kind of jobs could I obtain realistically?

4. What about if I go the university route?

5. Considering I have 10 years of project management experience will that help or an I back to square one?

I ask all of this because I'm looking to get advice from people who are living FIRE. I value this lifestyle and am working to pursue it myself. Apologies if this isn't appropriate in this sub.

I have 100k in 401k 100k cash which I'm looking to put into stocks. Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, jp Morgan, Berkshire and sp500. I'll use the stocks to sell very risk adverse options contracts.

Still renting in the sf bay area. Don't own anything other than my truck, clothes and tools.

Appreciate any genuine feedback 🙏