Financial Advisor - Anonymous employee Equitable Advisors Employee Review

3.0
Jun 23, 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You have the ability to work hard and see the results through increased commissions.

Cons

There was no other location for me to explain the salary system, so I'll do it here. Prior to starting you must pass your series 7 & Maryland Life, Accident and Health tests. During this time you are not paid & you must pay for these test (~$700, but you will get about ~$500 reimbursed after 3 months of being fully contracted.) Once you start working, your first month you are paid hourly, but must work 40 hours per week (no more, no less), I received $1,400 for the month + commissions (I did not make any commissions yet and it would be difficult to do ). For the next 2-6 months, you are not making any money except on commissions. After you make $3-$5K, then you are done with your Pre Employment Phase (PEP). 3 months from now you will receive that $500. Now you make a decision to either be on a 3 year track to make a decreasing salary or decreasing bonus. I believe the salary starts at $24K then reduces by about $4K each of the next to years. The other system starts you making a 30% bonus on all commissions which decreases (I believe) by 5% each year for the next 2 years. Either pathway focuses your income from comissions.

Explore other reviews about Equitable Advisors

5.0
Jul 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Very fun work place and great work environment. Awesome incentive trips, great culture. Good management. Very motivational culture. Very lenient schedule depending on manager.

Cons

Bad pay within first couple of years. Back paying salary through "recovered commissions". Not much support in terms of finding clients.

1.0
Jun 26, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Complete freedom to build your book of business anmd schedule.

Cons

Horrendous place to start. Managers run their own practice and have little to no time to actually help you outside of your joint meetings so you're on your own. They only give you 2 options to get clients, cold calling or their retirement benefits group through schools. Basically the whole advising piece is to just to sell life insurance and annuities. The support staff is thin so you're kind of on your own with paperwork and compliance docs. They just genuinely offer you nothing. No help with covering costs (you pay for all your licensing and marketing materials), they even charge you for using the company laptop and fees for programs you will never use. They will mislead you about the commission payouts and you only really get something if you get them to buy an annuity or life insurance. If you also have a remaining balance of any fees when you leave, they will literally sending you threatening letters demanding the money and threaten you with claims court if you don't pay it back.

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