Debt Originations to D/E Brokerage

I’ve been heavily considering making this jump. I’ve spent the past 5 years in debt originations at a debt fund. Have mostly enjoyed it, made decent $, but we continually start and stop with the market. Plus bonus is dependent on how the company does and company is not exactly killing it. Can’t take another year of start/stop, and risking a low bonus while in my prime years.

My main attraction to D/E brokerage is being able to control my own destiny. If I produce I produce and vice versa. I choose the deals I work on (there will inevitably be a ramp up period to working on the deals I’m used to financing), and I’d be working on a small team with a friend moving towards a goal. My concerns are on the trajectory of the economy, how hard it is to get a deal (MF bridge, construction) closed, the space being crowded by a lot of institutions, and never having done it before.

Anyone made this move before, had friends that made the move, or considering it now? Would love advice or to connect on this in general. Feel free to PM.