Those are the words uttered by many independent reps who have made the leap from a large national full-service firm to independence. For so long, they say, independence was something they only dreamt about. The benefits of the independent life include being able to truly own your own business and, of course, a higher payout.
But it's easy to see why some reps prefer todream about the indie life rather than act. Despite the perks, both mental and physical barriers remain. For one, there are over a hundred active independent firms to choose from. (That number rises when firms with less than $50 million in annual revenue are taken into consideration.) Deciding which one fits your needs can be a formidable task. Of course, the move is not for everyone. For some wirehouse reps, the business risk of facing a market downturn without the safety net of a big Wall Street firm is too great. That's why the first thing you need, indie reps say, is commitment.
