[noodle]

I've had mixed experience here. It REALLY depends on what you're specializing in; specialization alone doesn't cut it. Also, you can get away with being a skills generalist if you instead specialize in a field/topic/etc (IMO).

So its more about positioning, I think. How you're able to sell yourself and the skills you have.

[mike_h]

Agree on both points, and quite possible the “small financial firms” thing the OP has been doing is a targetable niche.