re: CFA designation.

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I'm not sure what niche I'd find at this point, though business valuation would interest me. I have young kids, so at this point I think I'm going to purchase the LVL 1 hard copy books so I can begin reviewing the material and see how it fits into my life at this point. I think there are even 3rd party practice tsets I can purchase without ever sitting /paying for LVL 1.

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Couple of things. Like the last poster said, the guys I know that passed are "genius smart." No lie, I feel dumb next to these guys (one of them even passed all three without failing once - incredible). But for the most part, they either didn't have kids, or are terrible fathers. Meaning, they sacrificed going to ball games, etc, to study. The guy that didn't fail would put in about 30 hours of study time in after work each week. He missed a large part of his daughters growing up (and is now addicted to Adderall).
My advice would be get the Level I books and start reviewing, but know that you will eventually have to choose between study time and kids activities (and you better have an understanding wife). There are other ways around this as well. You could look for a job in valuations, banking, or a larger CPA firm and see if your employer would sponsor you to get the certification. Most that do this will allow you to cut out of work early on slow days to get some study time in. The sponsorship works in the same way as getting an MBA through your employer. They will ask you to stay on for "X" amount of years, or pay back a prorated portion of the fees.
I'm not trying to talk you out of doing it, just go in with your eyes open. Unless you are genius smart and have a doctor that can give you all the Adderall prescriptions you want. I would suggest looking for the career change with an employer that would consider sponsoring you. Nothing worth getting is ever easy, right?