Mortgage Advisors, what is your journey?

Im currently a senior recruitment consultant earning a decent salary of around 60k including commission. My dad is a mortgage advisor who is a sole trader. He is looking to retire and said id be good at the job and would love to pass his clients to me.

So im about to grab the CeMap qualifications, but I wanted to ask what people's journeys have been like. How did you start? Did you join a firm or go straight into being a sole trader? If you went into an employed role, how much was your first year take home? How much was second? As a sole trader, same questions?

Its a big jump to completely change my career, but im kind of sick and tired of recruitment.