OSJ - you may have heard or seen this acronym in learning about the independent advisor channel. It stands for Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction. Until you are familiar with exactly what that means, just substitute "branch" or "network" when you see "OSJ."
This article from Investment News is a few years old, but still very accurate in describing the benefits of considering an OSJ affiliation. Many of us tend to back away from the idea of associating with anyone in our independent practice that are not absolutely required. That is a natural tendency when trying to escape the bureaucracy of a large firm, but don't let your desire to control your destiny make you too myopic about options for your new business.
Do the homework, talk to people, THEN make an informed decision for yourself.
Have questions about the role of an OSJ in your independent practice or other questions about going independent? Email me at Sean@IndyFA.com