Was becoming much more sales focused by the time I left. - Associate Wealth Management Advisor TIAA Employee Review

3.0
Nov 17, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Most of the people that work there are very nice and very helpful. I worked in a field office so it was nice to know that I could call up people in the headquarters for help with any questions. They can pay out pretty decent bonuses.

Cons

The wealth management side of the company has become much more sales focused. When I first started working in the wealth management division of TIAA-CREF in 2007 it was primarily focused on the client experience and by the time I left the main objective was bringing in new assets. It became a "what have you done for me lately" environment and from what I have heard from employees that are still there it has stayed that way with the asset growth goals getting larger and larger every year.

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5.0
Jun 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great work life balance, good benefits, decent pay, ease of running your own practice as an “advisor”, and healthy work environment

Cons

Management styles can vary and affect your experience, upper management doesn’t seem to be well equipped to ensure the organization’s success but it is resilient nonetheless.

2.0
Jul 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good starting salary and benefits package.

Cons

The longer you’re there, the more of an expectation that you work more for the same or less income. Producers find it hard to justify staying when leadership keeps moving the goal posts on how to increase income. No rhyme or reason as to how they decide “promotions.” One advisor might have one good year and get promoted over an advisor that produces year in and year out. They fail to share revenue because they’d have a hard time justifying the income level compared to outside advisors with a fraction of the book size. They claim and depend on brand recognition to justify a capped income but fail, or just won’t admit that is why they keep losing their top talent. Operations is a nightmare that I can’t even begin to describe. When I share the processes that have been in place for over a decade, colleagues in the industry shake their head and laugh. They can’t believe we earn and keep business. The saying while I was there was “the biggest threat we face is that TIAA clients start to explore their options outside of TIAA.”

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