I left Goldman Sachs after 20 years to become a pastor after I lost my sense of purpose. I get paid next to nothing but I cherish my freedom. [Video]

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kristin Breuss, a 45-year-old pastor based in London. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I joined Goldman Sachs in 1990 as an investment banking analyst at the age of 22. Almost two decades later, I left to become a pastor.

My first two years at Goldman Sachs were ridiculously intense, and I was lucky to get a day off, including Sundays. But it really was a great place to be. I learned a lot, they treated me well, and invested a lot in me.

When I was at college, I did an internship with a politician in London and loved it. So in 1999, I pitched the idea of Goldman Sachs basing their global training for investment banking in London, and they said yes. My husband and I moved from New York to London shortly after, and 24 years later, we’re still here.

Every 18 months to two years, …