--- title: Commonwealth Guide to Independence | Resources description: 5 Signs It May Be Time to Break Away from the Wirehouse image: https://learn.commonwealth.com/hubfs/BLC/Images/Resources%20(blog%20posts)/featured%20images/5-Signs.jpg --- [![blue lockup](https://learn.commonwealth.com/hubfs/BLC/Logos/blue%20lockup.svg)](https://www.commonwealth.com/) [![blue lockup](https://learn.commonwealth.com/hubfs/BLC/Logos/blue%20lockup.svg)](https://www.commonwealth.com/) - Your Journey - [Breaking Away](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/journey/breakaway) - [Researching Options](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/journey/research) - [Choosing a Partner Firm](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/journey/firm-partner) - [Opening Your Doors](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/journey/launch) - [Growing Your Business](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/journey/business) - Key Topics - [The Economics of Independence](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/key-topics/economics) - [The Client Experience](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/key-topics/clients) - [Transitioning Your Business](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/key-topics/transition) - [Choosing the Right Firm Partner](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/key-topics/firm-partner) - [Running Your Business](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/key-topics/business-management) - [Marketing Your Business](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/key-topics/marketing) - [Managing Your Risk](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/key-topics/risk-management) - Your Toolbox - [Videos](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources?ty=type-video) - [Quizzes](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources?ty=type-quiz) - [Checklists](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources?ty=type-checklist) - [Guides](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources?ty=type-guide) - [All Resources](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources) - [About Commonwealth](https://www.commonwealth.com/why-commonwealth/about-us) [Let's Connect](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/contact-us) Close - Your Journey - [Breaking Away](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/journey/breakaway) - [Researching Options](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/journey/research) - [Choosing a Partner Firm](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/journey/firm-partner) - [Opening Your Doors](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/journey/launch) - [Growing Your Business](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/journey/business) - Key Topics - [The Economics of Independence](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/key-topics/economics) - [The Client Experience](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/key-topics/clients) - [Transitioning Your Business](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/key-topics/transition) - [Choosing the Right Firm Partner](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/key-topics/firm-partner) - [Running Your Business](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/key-topics/business-management) - [Marketing Your Business](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/key-topics/marketing) - [Managing Your Risk](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/key-topics/risk-management) - Your Toolbox - [Videos](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources?ty=type-video) - [Quizzes](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources?ty=type-quiz) - [Checklists](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources?ty=type-checklist) - [Guides](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources?ty=type-guide) - [All Resources](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources) - [About Commonwealth](https://www.commonwealth.com/why-commonwealth/about-us) SEARCH [Let's Connect](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/contact-us) ##### [Commonsense Guide to Independence](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence) - [Home](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence) - [Resources](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources) - [5 Signs It May Be Time to Break Away from the Wirehouse](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources/5-signs-it-may-be-time-to-break-away-from-the-wirehouse) ![cw\_green](https://f.hubspotusercontent20.net/hubfs/295024/BLC/Images/cw_green.svg) # 5 Signs It May Be Time to Break Away from the Wirehouse Is the grass greener in the independent channel? If you’re a wirehouse advisor today, it’s something you may find yourself wondering about more and more. The fact is, the scales seem to be tipping, with many of the advantages once claimed by wirehouses—such as technology leadership and compliance support—shifting toward independents. Gaining control over your own destiny and the potential for better compensation may offer allure too, especially if you’re an entrepreneur at heart. And issues that have long been deterrents—like the transition process and the smooth transfer of client assets along the way—are proving to be less of a barrier today than in the past. Given all that, is it the right time to break away from the wirehouse? Here are a few signs that may be pointing to yes. [![Read the Full Article](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/295024/a7dfebb6-3b78-40a7-8e13-0697abab6748.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/295024/a7dfebb6-3b78-40a7-8e13-0697abab6748) {val=} ### Related Resources ### [Breaking Away from the Wirehouse: Pros and Cons](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources/breaking-away-from-the-wirehouse-pros-and-cons) [Start Reading](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources/breaking-away-from-the-wirehouse-pros-and-cons) [Type: Quiz](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources?ty=type-quiz) ### [5 Quick Questions to Help You Break Away the Right Way](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources/5-quick-questions-to-help-you-break-away-the-right-way) [Start Reading](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources/5-quick-questions-to-help-you-break-away-the-right-way) [Type: Guide](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources?ty=type-guide) ### [So, You've Decided to Break Away from Your Wirehouse—Now What?](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources/so-you-want-to-break-away-from-your-wirehouse-now-what) [Start Reading](https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources/so-you-want-to-break-away-from-your-wirehouse-now-what) ### Connect with Us Tell us a little about yourself. We'll begin a conversation about your business and how Commonwealth can help move your practice forward. ![footer-background](https://f.hubspotusercontent20.net/hubfs/295024/footer-background.png) [![Full Lockup](https://learn.commonwealth.com/hubfs/BLC/Logos/Full%20Lockup.svg)](http://www.commonwealth.com/) ©2025 Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member [FINRA](http://www.finra.org/), [SIPC](http://www.sipc.org/), a Registered Investment Adviser. All rights reserved. This material is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific advice. Please review our [Terms of Use](https://www.commonwealth.com/terms-of-use). [![BrokerCheck - check the background of this investment professional](https://images.ctfassets.net/a320zjmb1inn/18F2QZ8je8v2yJ56ROCICc/3d91e67f251132fe5c395c9190fb2649/BrokerCheck-Small.png)](https://brokercheck.finra.org/)   **Information about securities-registered professionals may be found at** [**FINRA BROKERCHECK**](https://brokercheck.finra.org)**.** [Form CRS](https://assets.ctfassets.net/a320zjmb1inn/2i7OtNINj5zCRE0BsKWBSC/4b17ef9e2d59f665bdba69ae14e607aa/Form-CRS-Online.pdf) | [Disclosure](https://www.commonwealth.com/for-clients/disclosure/customer-id-program) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.commonwealth.com/for-clients/disclosure/privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "United States", "addressLocality" : "Waltham", "addressRegion" : "MA", "postalCode" : "02451", "streetAddress" : "275 Wyman Street, Suite 400" }, "email" : "hello@power.com", "knowsLanguage" : "en-us", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent20.net/hubfs/295024/CommonwealthFinancialNetwork-Logo.png" }, "name" : "Commonwealth Financial Network", "telephone" : "+49 (0) 89 123 456", "url" : "https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources/5-signs-it-may-be-time-to-break-away-from-the-wirehouse" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "abstract" : "5 Signs It May Be Time to Break Away from the Wirehouse", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Commonwealth Financial Network" }, "dateModified" : "June 17, 2022 1 PM", "datePublished" : "September 25, 2021 5 PM", "headline" : "5 Signs It May Be Time to Break Away from the Wirehouse", "image" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent20.net/hubfs/295024/BLC/Images/Resources%20%28blog%20posts%29/featured%20images/5-Signs.jpg", "inLanguage" : "en-us", "keywords" : "[Stage: Breaking Away, Topic: Transitioning Your Business]", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@type" : "WebPage" }, "name" : "5 Signs It May Be Time to Break Away from the Wirehouse", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent20.net/hubfs/295024/CommonwealthFinancialNetwork-Logo.png" }, "name" : "Commonwealth Financial Network" }, "text" : "Is the grass greener in the independent channel? If you’re a wirehouse advisor today, it’s something you may find yourself wondering about more and more. The fact is, the scales seem to be tipping, with many of the advantages once claimed by wirehouses—such as technology leadership and compliance support—shifting toward independents. Gaining control over your own destiny and the potential for better compensation may offer allure too, especially if you’re an entrepreneur at heart. And issues that have long been deterrents—like the transition process and the smooth transfer of client assets along the way—are proving to be less of a barrier today than in the past. Given all that, is it the right time to break away from the wirehouse? Here are a few signs that may be pointing to yes.", "url" : "https://learn.commonwealth.com/advisor-guide/independence/resources/5-signs-it-may-be-time-to-break-away-from-the-wirehouse", "wordCount" : "174" } ```