Advice for an experienced professional

I have been in the financial services industry for going on 17 years, pretty much all of my experience has been on the discount brokerage side, most recently with TDA. I have talked with several other firms recently about a switch (both wirehouses and indy's). my biggest hurdle is , i do not have a book of biz to bring along with me. sure i have long relationships with many clients at TDA but they are not "my clients" and i cannot guarantee that they follow me where i go.

most recently i have been in contact with MS and looking to joing their FAA program. can anyone here provide insight, expectations, success of those that have entered the program??? is prospecting mainly done by cold calling or are their other sources they use at MS?

any help is appreciated.