I recently bought a Schefflera pueckleri at a local nursery and it is doing so well in my patio where it is protected from wind coming from the Pacific (I'm in the Bay Area). It has made 2 new leaves since I got it last month.

I would really love to have it branch from the base and create a multiple trunks. There are already two tiny buds at the base. What can I do to encourage these buds to grow into trunks? What will happen if I take out the growing tip of the main trunk? What is the best time of year to do this? Are there any risks or drawbacks to taking out the main growing tip?