Matt,
Parts of this I agree with...I know there is a stigma to being a financial advisor or broker. However, I also know many brokers that work for or have Merrill, Morgan Stanley, and Bank Of America and they are cool people, not as much salesmen/women as those from AXA, Edward Jones, and others...
Actually, Merrill targets people with $1 million and up...in ten years, they'll not even target those, it'll be $10 mill and up.
Thanks, though, I know where you're coming from and it's something I am thinking of before making the leap!
Buc