Jonathon Kline: Different Careers, One Common Thread

After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and working in law enforcement, Jonathon Kline reached a point in his career when he had to reconsider what came next.

Kline served 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, reaching the rank of Sergeant and serving as an Amphibious Assault Vehicle Crewman, Infantry Machine Gunner, and Military Policeman. His decision to enlist was influenced by the events of September 11, 2001, which occurred during his freshman year of high school.

He remembers feeling a strong desire to serve and do something bigger than himself. The Marine Corps appealed to him in part because of its reputation for being one of the military’s most demanding branches. When others told him he would not make it, their doubts only strengthened his determination. “Some people laughed and said I could never do it, so I had a chip on my shoulder and wanted to prove everyone, including my family, wrong.”

For much of his adult life, Kline’s professional identity had been tied to serving others. When he left law enforcement, he found himself without the sense of purpose that had accompanied those roles.

“After leaving law enforcement, I found myself struggling with something I had not expected; I had lost my sense of purpose,” Kline said. “Throughout my adult life, whether serving in the Marine Corps or working in law enforcement, I felt my identity had always been centered on helping people. In losing this purpose, I felt as though I had lost my identity as a whole.”

His next step was not immediately clear. But his experiences in the military and law enforcement had already given him an area he wanted to understand more deeply: psychology.

Why Jonathon Kline returned to College to study Psychology

Kline’s interest in psychology developed over years. During his time in the Marine Corps and later in law enforcement, he witnessed the effects that trauma, grief, and chronic stress can have on individuals and families. He also found himself having conversations with fellow Marines who were struggling after their deployment to Iraq.

Those experiences led him to ask questions about how people respond to adversity and what factors can help them move forward.

His own experiences also influenced that interest. Through his personal recovery and professional experiences, Kline developed a greater understanding of mental health and the importance of seeking help.

“My own journey gave me a much deeper appreciation for the importance of mental health as well as reinforced the idea that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness,” he said.

Kline decided to pursue a psychology degree at Keiser University, with the long-term goal of becoming a licensed mental health therapist and working with veterans and first responders.

He also saw an opportunity to apply what he was learning to his current career.

Kline now runs Kline Financial Solutions, where he helps families with financial planning. His psychology education, he said, has helped him better understand how people respond to stress and how to communicate with clients.

“Although I started a new career and business in financial services, the end goal is to still become a licensed mental health therapist,” Kline said. “In the meantime, the information I learned will be invaluable in the process of helping my clients navigate the stresses associated with planning their financial future.”

Returning to College as a Working Adult

When Kline returned to college, he was balancing school with work and family responsibilities. Keiser University’s one-class-at-a-time format was an important factor in his decision.

The structure allowed him to concentrate on one subject while managing responsibilities outside the classroom.

His experience at Keiser also changed the way he approached research, communication, and critical thinking.

“Keiser taught me much more than psychology,” Kline said. “It fine-tuned my discipline, critical thinking, and taught me the importance of communicating ideas clearly and objectively in a way I had not experienced.”

His professors also challenged him to distinguish between personal opinion and evidence when developing arguments and presenting information.

“I was forced to hone these skills further when articulating information that was researched for papers,” he said.

For Kline, however, one of the most significant outcomes of completing the program was a change in his view of his own abilities.

“I feel the greatest lesson I learned was that I am capable of much more than I had ever believed.”

Balancing College, family and career

Kline’s time at Keiser coincided with several significant changes in his personal and professional life.

During his degree program, he went through a divorce, moved three times, transferred campuses, started a new business, remarried, became a stepfather, and cared for his father during his father’s battle with cancer until his passing. He also continued working through his own recovery and mental health challenges.

At several points, he questioned whether he could continue his education.

“There were several times I had to sit there and question if I could continue being a student while facing all the adversity,” Kline said.

Support from his wife, Jacqui, as well as his parents and close friends, helped him remain in the program.

So did his perspective on the challenges he had already faced.

“Looking back, I can recognize that these challenges did not stop my education; they became a part of it, forcing me to grow not only as a student, but as a man.”

Kline ultimately completed his psychology degree with a 4.0 GPA.

While the academic achievement is one he is proud of, he considers what the degree represented to be more significant.

“Graduating with a 4.0 is something I will always be extremely proud of, but what means the most is the person I became along the way.”

How Military Service Led to a Career in Psychology

Kline’s career today looks different from the one he envisioned when he first joined the military.

He is no longer serving in uniform or working in law enforcement. Instead, he is building a financial services business while preparing for the next stage of his education.

His long-term goal is to pursue a master’s degree in psychology and eventually work with veterans and first responders.

That goal is connected to the same motivation that influenced his earlier careers.

“My purpose has always been to help people,” Kline said. “Today, I do that by helping families prepare financially before life’s unexpected challenges occur, giving them the peace of mind they seek.”

For Kline, psychology has also broadened his understanding of what it means to help someone.

“Psychology taught me that helping people is not limited to one profession,” he said. “Whether you are a therapist, educator, first responder, or a financial advisor, the ability to understand people with empathy and communicate with honesty and humility can change lives.”

Jonathon Kline’s Plans for a Career in Psychology

Kline plans to take some time away from school to focus on his family and business before returning to pursue graduate education in psychology.

His experience as a student has also shaped the advice he gives to people considering college, particularly those who may question whether they are ready to begin.

“You do not have to believe you are capable before you begin, you simply need to be willing to take the first step,” he said. “If I had waited until I felt fully confident, I would never have started.”

Kline graduated from Keiser University in 2026, but he does not consider the degree the end of his education.

His next chapter will combine what he has learned through military service, law enforcement, psychology and financial services as he works toward a career serving veterans and first responders.

The profession may change. The setting may change. But the purpose that brought Kline back to school remains central to where he wants to go next.

“Never allow yourself to lose sight of your why, the reason you chose to pursue a degree in psychology in the first place,” Kline said. “Degrees, careers, and job titles change, but your ‘why’ should not.”