Pros/Cons: Regular Broker vs Online Broker?

[Shawn Regnier]

Hi there, I'll be getting my real estate agent license in Los Angeles (as soon as CA Gov gets off their butts and gives me my exam date), and was wondering if anyone that has hung their license with online brokers would like to share their experiences in doing so. 

I am keeping my day job as a personal trainer/coach, but am getting my license for some "near future" side investing (flips for capital to buy/hold etc). I had intended on just hooking up with an online broker, but am wondering if I am limiting myself to much better networking and learning, by not signing up with a regular broker. I didn't think a regular broker would be interested in a part time agent with one eye on future investing, but the more I read the boards, the more I see other people getting their licenses as part timers.

I was hoping that some agents would shed some light on joining an online broker, and the pros/cons.

Also, maybe you wouldn't mind answering some questions like:

-Did you do it when you first got your license?

-Did you need to have a sponsor when you first joined (some online brokers I've searched out require it)?

-If you didn't join initially, how long before you did; and do you wish you did it sooner?

-Were you able to network with other agents that were part of the online broker, or were other agents mostly uninterested?

Thanks, and Happy New Year!