I could see what would happen when Obamacare passed in 2010 and figured I had 4 years to remain in the market or transition to something else. Had I not shifted when I did my income would have dropped to almost zero within 3 years. By adding Medicare in the mix those commissions were rising (all as earned) while my U65 comp was dropping.
Overall, my income was steady from 2014 on and around 2018 started to rise again.
The marketplace software was a complete mess the first 3 years, maybe longer. Almost all of my client base would pay the full, unsubsidized premium so I saw no reason to do anything but maintain existing clients as long as I could, at least until their pre-2014 plans were cancelled.
I hated to lose those relationships but at that point, the U65 market would have been a hobby, not a profitable business model, and I didn't need another hobby.
I began my transition a little sooner. As soon as it was evident that ACA was passing, I started focusing more on Medicare. I still did some ACA stuff, but as carriers began pulling out of the market, I felt it was pointless. Every time I would talk to someone, very few of their doctors were in the network. We had doctors offices telling patients they weren't accepting Marketplace plans. It just wasn't worth dealing with for $10 per month. Then, God forbid you had someone lose group coverage or turn 26 outside of open enrollment. If you enrolled them you didn't get paid.