Broken Dealer: Navigating the Path to Financial Advisor Independence

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Bolting the Big Firm (but were afraid to ask)

Under intense pressure from their corporate masters to sell products that clients may not need, many financial advisors desperately want to slip the golden handcuffs and become independent agents. However, they lack the initiative, the plan or the gumption to break away from the mothership, and so they continue to toil in psychic pain.

Carmine Corino and Daren Blonski know how they feel and have devised the blueprint for those who want to make the leap. Born of their own hard-earned experience, the self-deprecating duo lays out the path, identifies the landmines, offers shark repellant and prepares advisors for the emotional rollercoaster that lies ahead.

Part yogis, part older brothers, part wise-cracking best buddies, Corino and Blonski recount their own successes and failures, lessons learned and things they wished they’d done, all served with a soupcon of silly, because, as Ben and Jerry said, “If it’s not fun, why do it?”

Among the unexpected words of wisdom: "First, know yourself;" "Get the blessing of your spouse or it will be hell;" "Find an outlet for the inevitable stress;" "Keep your mouth shut beforehand;" and "Expect to be surprised who your friends are." Armed with their tried-and-true formula, any advisor in the country can extricate themselves from the vice grip of the big financial services company.

If you’re even contemplating making a move, this book is a must-read. It will save you a lot of trouble… and make you laugh along the way.

CARMINE CORINO, Certified Financial Planner™, is the visionary behind Cornerstone Planning Group, a national wealth management firm dedicated to empowering clients and advisors to craft secure futures. Departing from the corporate constrained environment to establish an independent RIA, Carmine has steadfastly pursued an ethos of Impact and continues to enrich the lives of his clients and liberate other advisors from restrictive corporate settings. He champions collaboration and prioritizes personal development, regularly engaging with multiple business coaches and mastermind groups across the nation.

Apart from his professional pursuits, Carmine embodies the essence of a true fitness enthusiast. Whether he's pounding the pavement, swimming laps in the pool, or pushing weights in the gym, Carmine dedicates himself to physical fitness to enhance his capabilities as an advisor and enrich his roles as a husband, father, and individual. Above all, his utmost happiness comes from embarking on adventures around the world alongside his wife Alexis and their two children, Mia and CJ.

DAREN BLONSKI, CFP® is the co-founder and Managing Principal of Fermata Advisors/ Sonoma Wealth Advisors. He is a learner, educator, and entrepreneur. With a Master of Arts in Psychology from Sonoma State University, he is deeply connected to helping clients take their lives to the next level. His clients see him as a coach, operating in the realm of financial planning.

Working with clients across the life-stage spectrum, he focuses particularly on assisting entrepreneurs looking to soak up life. Coupling his experience with traditional markets, Daren specializes in helping clients who value Bitcoin and other cryptos to build diversified investment strategies.

A life-long learner. Daren is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, an Accredited Investment Fiduciary™, a Certified Retirement Planner Specialist™, a Certified Exit Planning Advisor™ a Certified Retirement Planning Counselor™, an Accredited Asset Management Specialist™, a Smartvestor Pro™ with Dave Ramsey, a Certified Digital Asset Advisor™, and has received his certificate in Blockchain and Digital Assets from the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals. He is deeply committed to the pursuit of lifelong learning.

As a lifelong resident of Sonoma County, if there is a race to be run, a weight to be lifted, a mountain to be climbed, Daren is all in. He loves the outdoors, fishing, and Red Sox Baseball. He spends his spare time pursuing his physical and mental agility through various outdoor and physical health related activities. With all this said, Daren’s greatest joys are his three children: Brooklyn, Bryton, and Brady.