I'm afraid to cut my schefflera back. [View all]

I've read much of the advice around the net over the years, so I know it's a hardy plant that will bounce back quickly, but there are two things holding me back.

The first thing is timing. I've been told to do it around now, when the days are short; but I've read that it's best to do it during the summer, because the longer days will help it grow back more easily. Any idea which of these is actually correct?

The other thing is that when I bought it, it had already been cut back, so it has terminated stalks about 4-5" above the soil, and branches coming off the sides of those that go up nearly 4' now. I'm worried about where to cut it so that it is more likely to develop side-shoots in a direction that will end up with a nice-looking plant rather than a lopsided or oddly-shaped one. I was very careful about cutting my rosebushes (when I had them) above certain leaf buds, in order to train the bushes the way I wanted, but I don't recognize any such clues on this plant.

Could someone here please offer some helpful advice?
Thanks!