At least three people that I have placed in the past decade (still at their jobs, at the same companies) have made over $500,000 this year. This feels good to know -- some people benefited from my work...

What's really interesting is that all three of those people actually asked me to help them find other jobs, because they weren't that happy at the companies after a year or two.  

I was very attentive to their concerns, but remained hands-off as much as possible, given the ethical requirements of the situation, and my contractual obligation to my clents.

Now, they are all thanking me for not being an unscrupulous recruiter who wanted to profit by making a quick buck by finding them another job and collecting another fee.  Having gone through the 'difficult times' they have all emerged stronger, and with a healthy profit.

This kind of situation is very gratifying to me, personally.  More than money -- knowing that I made the right decisions (sometimes hard) for other people's benefit, and not my own.

Karma will come back to me.  I know it.