Thanks for the input.  No, it is a real indy b/d; in the top 15 according to FP magazine and all the other publications in all of the relevant factors (revenue, production, payouts, etc). 

Army,
You are a leader.  You also apparently understand taking control of your own destination.  You led 100 men into unthinkable situations.  Those men were trained to follow orders without questioning the command.  Your friends may well be followers.  No offense to them, it’s just reality that not everyone can handle leadership. 

Thanks for defending our beloved country.  Hooyah!

[quote=army13A] I hope everybody is doing well and making money. I’m looking for some advice on my current situation. I’m still pretty new to the industry and recently started at a local OSJ for an indy firm. I had my first full month of production pass and did reasonably well. I’m not going to talk about production numbers because the point isn’t to brag but let’s just say that I was able to pay all of my bills and put enough into savings for a rainy day. The production requirements aren’t that much and I’m kind of just doing my own thing and everybody is leaving me alone. I’m making calls, meeting with prospects, opening accounts and filling my pipeline. I have some buddies who are at other indy firms and they’re interviewing with ML for the PMD program. They’re stuck on the fact they are paying a salary and the name of Merrill Lynch. They told me about the production requirements and the hand holding that would be thrust upon them. Before my current firm, I was at one of the big banks/wirehouse for a short time and I couldn’t deal with the constant oversight because I had over 100 men under my command in Iraq while I was in the Army and couldn’t deal with micro-managing. They asked me what I would do and I said for my personal situation, I couldn’t go but it’s their choice. So the question is: am I missing something? One of my buddies was trying to talk to me about the “aura” of ML and that clients and prospects would be more impressed with a ML broker than an indy broker and yada yada. Thoughts?

[/quote]



Artillery Officer - BOOMBOOM BABY! Love the sound of a Paladin.



I think people will be more impressed with the “aura” of a combat veteran that an ML broker. When I sit down with people, they never ask me about my firm (I tell them of course - since it is required pretty much). But, what’s that flag for? You have a letter from President Bush, I hate/appreciated him? What’s the other flag for? Why are those your only army decorations in here? You were in IRAQ?! What was that like?



Your golden my good arty brother. I think you’ll be just fine.

[quote=KensLoveChild]Army,
You are a leader.  You also apparently understand taking control of your own destination.  You led 100 men into unthinkable situations.  Those men were trained to follow orders without questioning the command.  Your friends may well be followers.  No offense to them, it’s just reality that not everyone can handle leadership. 

Thanks for defending our beloved country.  Hooyah!
[/quote]

Thanks for the kind words Kens.  Hooah!!!

[quote=Moraen] [quote=army13A] I hope everybody is doing well and making money.  I’m looking for some advice on my current situation.  I’m still pretty new to the industry and recently started at a local OSJ for an indy firm.  I had my first full month of production pass and did reasonably well.  I’m not going to talk about production numbers because the point isn’t to brag but let’s just say that I was able to pay all of my bills and put enough into savings for a rainy day.  The production requirements aren’t that much and I’m kind of just doing my own thing and everybody is leaving me alone.  I’m making calls, meeting with prospects, opening accounts and filling my pipeline.  I have some buddies who are at other indy firms and they’re interviewing with ML for the PMD program.  They’re stuck on the fact they are paying a salary and the name of Merrill Lynch.  They told me about the production requirements and the hand holding that would be thrust upon them.  Before my current firm, I was at one of the big banks/wirehouse for a short time and I couldn’t deal with the constant oversight because I had over 100 men under my command in Iraq while I was in the Army and couldn’t deal with micro-managing. They asked me what I would do and I said for my personal situation, I couldn’t go but it’s their choice.  So the question is: am I missing something? One of my buddies was trying to talk to me about the “aura” of ML and that clients and prospects would be more impressed with a ML broker than an indy broker and yada yada.  Thoughts?

[/quote]



Artillery Officer - BOOMBOOM BABY! Love the sound of a Paladin.



I think people will be more impressed with the “aura” of a combat veteran that an ML broker. When I sit down with people, they never ask me about my firm (I tell them of course - since it is required pretty much). But, what’s that flag for? You have a letter from President Bush, I hate/appreciated him? What’s the other flag for? Why are those your only army decorations in here? You were in IRAQ?! What was that like?



Your golden my good arty brother. I think you’ll be just fine.[/quote]

What’s the sound of artillery? BOOM BOOM!!! (I used to love that cadence)



Thanks Moraen.  Being a Vet has earned me some business with other
Vets; that bond we share is unmatched.  I know I’m on the right path
but I just wanted to get some second opinions from the forum.