Carrer change/long term plans

Looking for some opinions/thoughts regarding something that has been on my mind in recent years. Currently working off the street (insurance co. w/ parent co. in EU) but did some years in IB. Since college, the idea of working at or starting my own HF has always been on my mind. At a point now, with my personal NW and investing/trading history, I would feel comfortable stepping away from the normal 9-5 and launching something on my own. Reading so much lately about the challenges and pain some people have starting their own SM fund, raising capital, dealing with the cost/pressure/etc. 

For those who have started a fund after some time, and not directly leaving a prior HF seat, how was that pressure? Is it easier on the mental just to trade on your own and keep trying to build your own personal wealth? Any successes or failures in the process. I know there's a number of emerging manager programs out there, I would need to build a little more capital to qualify for, but have already had conversations with my personal network to raise ~$10/15m (adding to my mid single digit $m). With the changing industry and landscape, is it even worth trying to raise a fund and chase bigger dreams, or just be content with my current position? 

F