Even Aristotle doesn't fully qualify as an academic. The healthy historical pattern is that philosophies are created by independent scholars outside academe, gain a popular following, and eventually become objects of academic study. Eras in which philosophy is monopolized by academics are eras in which independent scholarship is persecuted, ignored or despised as a career. This ensures that few independent scholars will appear to challenge academic orthodoxies, which therefore continue to pile new error upon old error for century after stagnant century. In such eras, most philosophies are poisonous trash.
Progress is largely the creation of independent scholars.
A fortune enough capital to provide a living income is better than a day job, as it frees a maximum of leisure for your work. Unless you were blessed with thrifty parents, don't quit your day job until you've saved a fortune. You can save a fortune in a reasonable time. An investment left to compound will double in a certain length of time, its doubling time. It turns out that if you live on half your income and invest the other half, then in one doubling time you will have enough capital to provide you an income in pe rpetuity equal to what you were living on, i.e., you will have a fortune to provide you a living.