If you love what you do then stay at it. It may take you a little longer then others but your goal should be to average 100k a week for 200 weeks then start backing off and decide how to run your business. If you hate going to work then it will only get worse. The funny thing about the biz is you can be on top of the world one day and in the trenches the next. Find an acountability partner and start challenging each other, heck make a game and have fun with it. I promise you are not the only one with reservations. good luck and I am not a vet but this is what I would do.

Hey Jones08,

I started about the exact same time you did. I started New/New in late 08, am a Seg 2 with only about $4 mil in so far. You are doing a very good job considering the conditions in which we started. (And looking back, although the vets in my region always tell me I have "bragging rights" because I started with ZERO accounts or assets, I would never, ever start New/New again. Not when I see Jones tripping over themselves lately to give everything that moves a $5mm to $10mm goodnight)

The question is: where would you go? What would you do? You've already demonstrated that you can do this work, that you are establishing credibility in your area (especially for someone so young), and you are starting to reach milestone-type numbers. Why start over now that you're just beginning to get traction?

I know from your age that you might be frustrated by the wild swings in production, but that is the nature of any start-up operation. That's growth. And you can't control that at this early stage. Production happens when it happens. Rollovers show up when they show up. You just need to, as Winston Churchill used to say, "Keep buggering on."

PM me if you'd like an accountability partner. I've been looking for one, as well.

Jones,

Here is what I have learned in (almost) 4 years at Jones.....

1. The work is easier AND harder than I thought.  The WORK is easier, but getting RESULTS is harder.

2. The ball doesn't really get rolling until about $15-20mm AUM of REAL assets (in other words, not CRAP assets), and maybe 3-4 years.

3. Accounts don't matter nearly as much as assets.  There are lots of variables, but I have found that my real small accounts are pretty crappy clients.  Bottom line, you have to find the money.  Don't get sucked into the "# of accounts" trap.  You can't make it only opening one new account per month (early on), but opening 10 accounts for a total of $100K does no good either unless they have strong potential.  They also take your eye off the ball.  You can't work for free all the time.

4. If you can afford the low income until you make it, you will be handsomely rewarded, both in freedom and income.

5. You MUST get some assets annuitized (MAP, Advisory Solutions, C-shares, UIT's, etc.).  Starting the month with $5-10K in fees after your first few years can be a godsend.  As I said above, if you can afford to put money into Advisory early on, DO IT.  I PROMISE you will be happy in a year or two.  It sucks for production today, but if yuo can squeek by while your standards are low, it will be the best thing for you.  Recurring income is slow to accumulate early on, but it is damn sweet once you have that income every month.  Add $2mm per year into Advisory every year, and you will have 150K in recurring revenue by 30.  Add $4mm per year, and that's $300K.

6. Set up repeatable processes.  Prospecting, appointment process, account opening, portfolio design, account reviews.

7. The first 5 years are literally about scratching and clawing for every new asset.  You can't get too discouraged early on.  Only now after almost 4 years am I starting to see stuff just "happen" (referrals, clients handing over new money unsolicited, people calling in unsoliciated because they "heard about you", clients getting laid off with 401K's, etc.) .

You are 24.  You have NO IDEA how much I wish I started in this BIZ at 24.  I am 38 and just getting started (2nd career).  You could be making a healthy 6-figure salary by 30, and your adult life has barely even started.  Get these difficult years behind you while you are young.  I spent my 20's and 1/2 of my 30's working like an absolute DOG in corporate finance.  50 hour weeks were the norm, 55-60 were common.  And those are *stressful* hours.  The stress you are experiencing right now is NOTHING compared to some careers.  Just remember that.

I am in the same region of the country as you.  Please PM me if you want to ask more questions.