Great opportunities with a great name...You WILL need to work OUTSIDE THE BOX. - Anonymous employee Vanguard Employee Review

5.0
Apr 10, 2013
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great resume builder. The name goes a LONG way in the industry. The concept of stewardship is not lost to Vanguard. Pay is alright IF YOU WORK. If you are not getting a professional designation (CIMA, CFA, CFP, CPA) or a grad degree (MBA, MS Finance, PhD Econ, or DBA), don't complain about not being paid enough. You will see there is a minimum threshold to weed out the "complainers" internally it's in the E-F range. I work with some of the smartest minds in the industry.

Cons

Management in PA has more resources to develop crew (can develop them to advanced investment groups on-site). AZ and NC develop structural attrition due to lack of Investment Management jobs. Phone-group management gives pushback when someone attempts to get a CFA (as they have nowhere to promote you to). After passing level 2 or 3, these reps or traders are hired away at a hefty premium. There is an Acceleration to Finance Professional program in PA, and a Vanguard Accelerated Development Program for Investment Management. No such program exists in Arizona or North Carolina. I know of 4 people in phone groups who left Vanguard after passing Level 3 of the CFA because they could not get the 48 month work experience in their phone roles. There was no push to place them, and not positions to fill.

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5.0
Jul 8, 2026
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Pros

Benefits are amazing, good culture mostly

Cons

Middle management can focus too much on politics vs. improvements

3.0
Jun 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Awesome coworkers for young professionals. Paid licensing for a few months.

Cons

Micromanagement is out of control. Incompetent team leaders who are obsessed with power and metrics. Back to back calls, limited support, and nearly impossible effective communication between departments. Zero time to cultivate culture because you are taking calls every second of the day except for 30min/1hr lunch and two 15 minute breaks. You’re locked into your role for over a year (apprenticeship for around 60 days, then a year after promotion to associate) and your team leaders will not approve internal applications unless you are “eligible”.

4
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