American Century Reviews

Pros

Employees are treated very well. Benefits are fabulous.

Cons

Career Advancement is limited but this can depend on the desired career path. Some limitations are simply due to the company being somewhat small.

Advice to Senior Management

Communication lines are open and I highly recommend keeping the Quartely/Town Hall meetings

Pros

Culture is relaxed
Benefits are good
Employees treated well
Management is generally flexible
Reasonable amount of feedback
Some opportunity for professional growth

Cons

Opportunity for growth may be limited depending on division
Overall compensation isn't terribly competitive
Can be mundane depending on position

Advice to Senior Management

Overall reasonable attempt balancing communication towards those in lower position. Transparency does appear limited in areas. Goals questionable at times given resources.

Pros

Good benefits, nice people, flexible work schedules when needed, onsite fitness center, used to be a fun atmosphere, challenging work

Cons

management, it seemed like if you weren't in the "group" you didn't have as great of a chance to advance.

Advice to Senior Management

look at competencies, not tenure or favortism when promoting people; examine your benefits, they aren't as good as you think they are.

Pros

Overall, American Century is an excellent employer although the company has become less employee friendly over the last several years. The company goes to significant lengths to recognize achievements through praise/recognigiton, but given market environment has done less to financial reward top performers. Benefits package and work/life balance are excellent.

Cons

New management stressed that the company would be a meritocracy and top performers would be rewarded. In reality, total compensation increases have come down considerably and top performers may still get dissappointing increases. Many positions throughout the company that are lacking a career path, even for top performers.

Advice to Senior Management

Work to identify and retain top talent throughout the entire company to avoid an increase in voluntary turnover as market recovers.

Pros

Tuition reimbursement. It defnitely pays to keep studying. No one can take your degrees away from you.

Cons

Being a phone jockey. Even with constant study and advanced degrees, sometimes they only care about "the stats" when it comes to promotion eligibility.

Advice to Senior Management

The manager should not be the only gateway to other job opportunities. Interpretation of some of the stats are horribly inaccurrate.

Pros

25 cent soda pop and the large amount of PTO. For example after your first year with the company you get approximately 20 days off for PTO. Other positives would include the face that they will pay for your KC METRO bus pass if you agree not to drive. However, some dissapointments would be the cliques that are formed within the company. It is obvious internally whom these cliques are and if you are not part of the clique than you are more than likely not going to advance. This is coming from someone who got along very well with most everyone, but just didn't partake in the cliques events.

Cons

There are not many opportunities for advancement internally. With many employees opportunities are passed on to external candidates even though it is communicated that there are opportunities for advancements.

Advice to Senior Management

n/a

Pros

Benefits, privately owned culture, stable in a down market due to their conservative investment strategy, Stowers Institute, friendly mid-Western values

Cons

lower pay, antiquated IT systems

Advice to Senior Management

update the IT and get with the 21st century

Pros

Management's interest in your personal and professional growth. Very generous benefits from top to bottom. From 401k matching to health benefits to time off. Technology and infrastructure better than industry average.

Cons

Working in satellite offices you have more limited opportunities for advancement if you don't want to relocate to KC.

Advice to Senior Management

Stay true to Midwestern roots

Pros

The benefits far surpass anywhere else I've worked. The management is qualified and genuinely want thier staff to grow.

Cons

It's large and slackers can exist undetected.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep doing what you're doing - it worked while I was there.

Pros

American Century has a great culture, marked by its collegial and supportive atmosphere. There is ample opportunity for personal and professional growth, both of which are encouraged. There are also good opportunities for advancement. The pay is exceptional and the benefits, which include an on-site gym and a fully paid four-week sabbatical after seven years, are extraordinary.

Cons

There aren't many downsides to working at American Century. Few come to mind. Only infrequently are there issues such as a communications from management that fall short in terms of speed, relevance and frequency in addressing important issues or approaching changes.

Advice to Senior Management

Continue to make valuing your people a top priority. It will always pay off. American Century people are tremendously loyal. And rightly so.