How To Go Independent

An objective source to learn about independent business models

How to compare your current payout to your potential payout as an independent advisor

MiscellaneousSean KernanComment

Those of us that have been independent for a while sort of instinctively know there's a nice economic advantage to being independent. However, if you're not there yet, I want to go through each category that you need to have a sense of, both in your current situation and in an independent model, and how to account for each one. You can then do a hypothetical profit and loss statement. How would it look if you had your own practice? It is hard to nail down the numbers (especially on the "what if you go independent?" side), but you can certainly get a pretty good estimate of what the numbers look like, and that will help you decide if it's worthwhile to you. I will touch on some of the reasons or situations where it might not make sense to go independent.

A "one firm for life" advisor goes independent -- part 3 of an ongoing series

InterviewsSean KernanComment

This is part three of an interview I did recently with an advisor currently in the transition process. He built a successful practice and decided to make the leap to independence despite being a "one firm for life" advisor early on. I've changed his name in the article to protect his identity. You can read the first part of the interview by clicking HERE or check out part two by clicking HERE

When you would NOT want to go independent - Part 4

Sean KernanComment

Number four, you aren’t willing to work hard for a short period of time to improve your business and have more control over it. I have a good friend who, after fourteen years in the industry all at one firm (I met him as we started at the firm about two months apart, fourteen years ago), he is in the process of moving his practice right now from the only firm he’s ever been with.