I am currently Series 7/66 licensed at a smaller independent firm in Iowa. Its been less than a year, but its clear that my senior associates care more about their own practices than helping out young advisors. I have been getting reached out to by several firms (Prudential, Northwestern Mutual, Merrill, Morgan Stanley, etc). I am debating between pushing through the trials of being an independent advisor to have a better upside down the road , or taking a more stable route but being at a more captive firm
If you have the ability to survive while you build your own book, that is definitely the way to go. In my position I see compensation for reps across all firms and cities. You would be shocked how well the small independent guys do and they are not held hostage by a big firm.