Okavango, your plan is very similar to mine, starting in April next year:
FAA PPL (Thinking Angel City Flyers In SoCal)
ATPL GS (DL with Bristol GS whilst working part time)
Hour Build in the US (Back to SoCal)
JAA CPL (With Stapleford Flight Centre)
Think I will then assess the market, my finances etc. Either follow the FI route and fly as often as I can whilst keeping a part time job in a bar or something for a year or so, then finish ME/IR, MCC with Stapleford OR complete ME/IR, MCC with Stapleford straight after CPL and enter the lions den!
Going either route has its advantages and disadvantages, but, I need to get in that postion before I start to get to worked up about it I guess!
Craig