From all I can gather on the situation, the 3 yr contract you mention is a 75,000 contract that is forgiven one quarter at a time till the three years are up.  So at 28 months you likely have 3 quarters left to pay.  That would be 18,750.  If you leave the business they will not go after a penny.  If you stay in the business with a competitor or independent they are highly likely to attempt to recover it.  From what I have heard it is common for them to settle for aprox half of the amt they are seeking.  Please check with other sources as these are just things I’ve heard and not 100% certain.  Good luck. I’m in a similar boat at the moment, but currently biding my time. 

starts going down after the 12 month after can-sell date…from that period decreases $9,250 a quarter until the 3 year mark.

If you stay in the business, then yes, they will come after you. If you go

to another region and do not try taking any clients, maybe not (but don’t

count on it). If you leave the industry, they won’t.

I've been with the firm for about 16 months, but am looking at taking a internal wholesaler role at a mutual fund company.  Would they come after me for costs since I won't be soliciting clients nor would i be a financial advisor?

How much are they offering you?  I always wondered how much and how wholesalers got paid.

IF you need your licenses in order to hold the wholesaler position, and Jones paid for the training for you to get those licenses, then yes they will go after the money.  It is their training costs.