Opportunity knocking A lump sum of money can mean taking advantage of time sensitive opportunities. A home, a business, schooling, investments, made possible by cashing in a schedule of smaller payments spread out over time. It’s not always best choice, but sometimes it is right choice. Unforeseen circumstances lead to unexpected opportunities that with right resources could reap exceptional dividends.

After discussing 3 ways to win by cashing in future installment payments, it is proper to touch on a few ways you might lose by cashing out. No more regular payments, no more guaranteed payments, burden of properly handling a large lump sum of cash, and procedure for accelerating your payments are all considerable reasons to not cash out. When it comes to matters of money, what you do matters. You can cash in by cashing out, just take care that you don’t end up cashless.

Flexibility. Most consultants choose an independent broker/dealer to attain a greater level of autonomy for their business. You might contact representatives of broker/dealer you are considering to see if they allow for flexibility that gives consultants a meaningful level of independence. Take a close look at broker/dealer to determine if they provide responsive service, personalized attention and flexibility that allows consultants to build their own business brand.

Product Selection. While it is not essential that your future broker/dealer offer an exhaustive list of investment vehicles, it is important that products you currently offer to your clients (or plan to offer in future) are available to you. Additionally, examine firm's product line to ensure it won’t compromise your autonomy. If there are incentives to sell proprietary products, you may want to look elsewhere.

Technology Offerings. Ask about technical applications broker/dealer offers. You should consider not only what is offered, but also how quickly firm adapts to new technologies to meet marketplace needs. Also, find out what product support is provided and whether there are product specialists to turn to when needed.

Payout Schedule. It is important to review a payout schedule for all investment products offered, but it may not tell whole picture. When considering broker/dealer offering highest payout levels, ask yourself what you may be sacrificing by partnering with them, and whether it is worth it in light of your business situation. Also, look at their “standard costs”, such as your ticket charges, and any other “hidden costs” to assess true compensation potential.

Back Office Support. Research various types of support broker/dealer offers and examine how it will be delivered. Consider your access to various departments of broker/dealer and ease with which you could get help if a problem should arise. While it is recommended that you make a systematic assessment of your choices, don't forget to listen to what your instincts tell you. In reality, there is no "best" independent broker/dealer—but there are more appropriate choices based on your individual circumstances. As you make your decision, carefully consider individualized needs of your business and what broker/dealer offers to help you to meet them.