I have decided to go with  Beneficial Financial Group.  It is a regional firm, and fits very well with the local culture in the area which should prove helpful in the beginning.

They are staunchly ethically based, and hasn’t had any regulatory actions against it.

Company was originally founded in 1905 as a life insurance firm and here is a little marketing blurb they have about themselves on their website:

At
the very core of our Company, we believe that a family’s trust is
sacred and that our obligations are binding. This is a conviction
we inherited from our founders and have followed since our incorporation
in 1905.



Honoring Our Commitments

We have always operated profitably, a rare feat among
insurance companies and one that historically has protected families
through economic and historic hardships.



For example, we filled requests for loans and surrender payments during the
stock market crash of 1929 and the resulting economic depression of the 1930s,
without ever resorting to a moratorium or a deferral of cash payments, as allowed
by state insurance laws.

During both World Wars, we protected families by paying all claims
for insureds who died serving their country. We did this at a time
when most life insurance companies invoked policy war clauses to
deny such payments. Honoring our commitments is one reason for our
strength.

The entire interview was about the principles behind working for the company, and the ethical importance behind managing others money. Yes it is a smaller regional outfit, but it resonated clearly with me. I know I would be extremely comfortable working for this company.

PROS:
So they are a smaller company which suits me personally compliance is a huge factor how business gets done which means that it can take a bit more time to clear certain portfolio structures, but when cleared there is assurance that there will not be any problems down the road.
They are not proprietary incentive based. They are flexible in regards to compensation structures i.e front loaded, back loaded, fee-based, fee only depending on what is being structured and how the client wants it done. Their payouts are generous compared to many of the competitors. On fee-based AUM they offer 50 basis points. Life insurance policies between 50% and 60%. Mutual Funds, commissions are the same across the industry depending on which family you are using. Solid Benefits package which includes a 3 to 1 401K. If I put 2% of my income into the account, they will match it with 6%. Office location where I will be working is great. It sits in a beautiful building with two other firms right among 12 different mid to upper end restaurants. A large shopping mall is across the street, and it is just off the freeway which makes it a major point of traffic flow. Also makes it easy to commute to, about a 25 minute drive from where I live. I am within 30 minutes drive of 58 golf courses CONS:
Could be considered a con since younger candidates may need to stability, but they do not offer a base salary starting out. I don’t consider this a con myself since my personal situation allows for me to jump right in and either sink or swim. Name recognition outside of western region. I intend to work from a niche oriented national perspective, so it might be a hard sell if the name is not known in the same way as a major.


I look forward to getting down to brass tax and getting those certifications out of the way. This is going to be a tough challenge, but I have to admit I am grinning when I say that.