If a corporation wants to hire an independent sales agent to sell its products, is it possible for the sales agent to keep the clients as his own if the company and the agent terminate their relationship>? If both parties want to retain the client, what compromise and drafting suggestions do you recommend.

Consider using a short non-compete between the company and the contractor. E.g. Company shall retain the right to certain listed clients for XX yrs after which the contractor shall be permitted to solicit the listed clients without company's defense.

Also, you could enlist some sort of profit short or residuals based on future performance whereby each party would continue to benefit from the previous relations when contractor was associated with company.

Those are just 2 of many options. I'm sure others on the forum can provide additional examples.