Pros
The level of experience gained in the financial industry is great, coupled with the ability to build a business in your local community. I personally left a great job making 3x more money to be able to work closer to home since I have a young family. I do appreciate the small town atmosphere and the small team with in the office. There is a feeling of "home" when I'm at work and that can make a huge difference when you are spending 8-10 hours a day in this environment. When the market is good, everything is great, but when the market is bad, you really have to step up to the plate.
Cons
The pay for the Branch Office Administrator is depressingly low and in no way reflects the knowledge and effort needed to be successful in this position. The Financial Advisors are the ones who reap all the credit, the rewards and the benefits. As a BOA I put in more hours than anyone at my location but my paycheck barely helps my husband to pay some of the smaller bills around the house. A "Thank You" is rare and I often find myself bending over backwards to make my FA look good, especially when he's hardly ever there. It's time the BOAs were put on the same level of respect and compensation as their sales-oriented counterparts.