Broken dealer

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Bolting the Big Firm (but were afraid to ask)

Under intense pressure from their corporate masters to sell products that clients may not need, many financial advisors desperately want to slip the golden handcuffs and become independent agents. However, they lack the initiative, the plan or the gumption to break away from the mothership, and so they continue to toil in psychic pain.

Carmine Corino and Daren Blonski know how they feel and have devised the blueprint for those who want to make the leap. Born of their own hard-earned experience, the self-deprecating duo lays out the path, identifies the landmines, offers shark repellant and prepares advisors for the emotional rollercoaster that lies ahead.

Part yogis, part older brothers, part wise-cracking best buddies, Corino and Blonski recount their own successes and failures, lessons learned and things they wished they'd done, all served with a soupcon of silly, because, as Ben and Jerry said, "If it's not fun, why do it?"

Among the unexpected words of wisdom: "First, know yourself;" "Get the blessing of your spouse or it will be hell;" "Find an outlet for the inevitable stress;" "Keep your mouth shut beforehand;" and "Expect to be surprised who your friends are." Armed with their tried-and-true formula, any advisor in the country can extricate themselves from the vice grip of the big financial services company.

If you're even contemplating making a move, this book is a must-read. It will save you a lot of trouble... and make you laugh along the way.