Freelancers are inherently part of the ecosystem, but they don't fit neatly into the hierarchy, much like senior engineers in large companies who have no interest in management.
Insurance agents and mortgage brokers belong to a different social group, so they're accorded "other" status and not measured by the same metrics.
You do marketing, sales, development, design, accounting, networking. You grow your own business like your own startup.
Moreover freelancing is a lean, slim startup. You don't spend time on investors and hiring. You won't change the world -- only yours. And that's good enough.
You do only you know the best.