With Grubb for six years, he says now is the time to fulfill his goal of running his own shop. "Grubb & Ellis is great. It was just time to move on. It's the right time to be stepping out on my own and building my own company," Hipp tells GlobeSt.com.

The strong Washington, DC market was one factor that enabled him to make his decision. "It's been a good market." That good market also allowed him the flexibility to self-finance the venture.

At first, Hipp aims to focus what he knows, the net-lease environment, but he envisions a high-end investment boutique firm with specialists in various sectors including shopping centers, multifamily. "You can't be all things to all people. We're going to focus on what we know—what got us here. It's synergy."