Pros
-- Good entry-level company to work at for recent college graduates or for individuals changing into a Finance career path -- Opportunity to earn NASD licenses and also obtain other industry-related training on soft skills and financial products and services - Strong emphasis on having a good work/life balance. Entering employees start out with three weeks of vacation and can roll over 20 vacation days a year (at least when I was there). Also, at least when I was there, benefits were affordable with a large network of providers. - A few good managers that are fair with raises and are able to mentor and give good advice to their associates
Cons
- Many politics and cliques in this company, which you'll notice after you've been there for at least six months. Behind all the smiling faces welcoming you to the company and telling you that you can always come to them for help is tremendous backstabbing and unprofessional behavior. Some departments honestly feel like high school all over again. - Management always spends time talking of plans to help associates grow in their career paths, but for the most part, only care about themselves. Lots of talk, but not much real action. This isn't true for all managers, but probably the majority of them. - Related to the above point, promotions are not very common here and are generally politically inclined. In other words, they're based more on favoritism instead of merit. If you ask for feedback as to why you didn't obtain a position, you'll usually receive an evasive generic response such as "We found someone who was a better fit". - If you have a college degree from a second or first tier school, you'll be frustrated having to work with a good number of the managers here who are just high school, community college, or third/fourth tier college graduates. Their thinking process amongst management is outdated and inefficient, but many house inferiority complexes to their more intelligent associates. - The smart people who start working here leave after two to three years, obtaining needed experience and licenses, to get better paying jobs at other financial institutions or at Oil and gas companies. That leaves the company with mediocre employees who later go on to become mediocre or below average managers. Get the picture?