Hill, who started with PGP straight out of college and now has two years of partnership status under his belt, will leave the company this month after 14 years to broker investment sales for Grubb & Ellis. Hill told GlobeSt.com that the chance of doing the same thing for 30 years and remaining enthusiastic about it is slim, while the urge to forge new territory is strong.

"I got to the point where I was managing the office, and looking ahead 15, 20 years, I thought I should try at least one other thing before I'm done," Hill told GlobeSt.com. "If I was five years away from retirement, I probably wouldn't be making the move."

So instead of a profit-sharing partnership with PGP, he's diving into the risky world of commission-based brokerage. Nonetheless, Hill's appraisal experience has him confident he can perform. "Investment sales are a more complicated, sophisticated transaction, and my background gives me an advantage," he said. "Who better to tell you how much you can sell your property for; I think I've got a pretty good pitch for that."