Joining a firm means an adviser can get started more quickly and has some support, though probably less flexibility than going it alone. Going solo gives you freedom, but expect it to take two years before you can start drawing a salary.

Karen McIntyre

Our Commentary

Caleb Brown specializes in financial planners with less than five years' worth of experience. Deena Katz, an associate professsor of personal financial planning at Texas Tech Univ.  and a few others are committed to making it easier for new CFPs to find job placements.