Fidelity Investments Reviews in Boston, MA Area

Pros

Benefits are very good with a 7% match

Cons

Almost impossible to change careers within company. Much better chance if you are an outsider.

Advice to Senior Management

Get good, solid people in middle management roles. In the Operations areas you have incompetent people more interested in politicking and kissing up then actually supporting the division

Pros

a) Benefits - Medical, Vacation and 401k Match

Cons

I am not sure what happen between 1999 and 2011, but this place is completely different. They treat their US employees like cattle that they can move to any location in the US to save a dollar and they think we will all follow like little lambs. How much money does the Johnson family need? Boston is where they made this company what it is today, and now they are leaving. They say it is not due to costs - but is clearly is the reason.

There are minimal promotion opportunities for the hard-working employee. Only those who play politics get anywhere at Fidelity. It forced the people who really get the work done to look elsewhere.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop moving employees around the country. Look at your talent and take care of them. So many talented people have left this firm to go elsewhere because they were not recognized.

Pros

Great team coworkers, and middle management.
Resources easily available
Decent work life balance
Good Benefits.

Cons

Upper Manangement could communicate better.

Pros

A new associate who is smart, willing to work hard and collaborate with fellow associates, and hit the ground running will be rewarded well.

Cons

Thw associate must be an optimist. The environment can be very frustrating, challenging and competitive.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't treat an employee as a number.

Pros

Benefits package is second to none. Private company allows for long term strategies.

Cons

Can be difficult to transition within the company. 5-year plans rarely get fullfilled b/c of high management turnover.

Advice to Senior Management

Hold managers more accountable for results.

Pros

Perks and job security. Great for middle aged employees.

Cons

Cube farms and the oppressive corporate culture.

Pros

Working within the strategy function:
- Gain the full consulting skill set (analytics - quantitative and qualitative, presentation and communication to senior management, working in team settings)
- Be exposed to senior management within firm (BU heads etc.)
- Have great in breadth and depth in financial services industry (retail / institutional asset management, retail / institutional brokerage, retirement services / administration)

Cons

- Very political work environment: it's all about who you knew and who would go to bat for you
- Very hierarchical / many management layers

Advice to Senior Management

A lot of times it's not safe to tell the truth!

Pros

Good location, very smart people to work with and learn from, the compensation is competitive, benefits are good too. You get enough resources to get your job done.

Cons

Given Fido is an investment firm, the investment professionals get all the attention. As an employee from technology side, people may feel left out a bit.

Advice to Senior Management

Be more open minded to give people opportunities to grow or change their career priorities. Being conservative is good but sometimes having some new blood or diversified thought is not a bad idea.

Pros

Benefits, a good reputation. Good people to work with, training and development opportunities. Wide range of job choices. Multiple locations.

Cons

Pay was lower than my peers at public companies. Long commute was difficult. Lack of advancement opportunities in management since I was in Boston, and they have been moving out of Boston. Inconsistent application of policies to employees.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop trying to be so politically correct when dealing with your employees. Stop forcing on us the management and HR "flavor of the day".

Pros

High Pay
Great Benefits
Well Respected Company
Great People

Cons

Political
Spend a lot of time reorganizing
Likely to continue cutting costs in several areas (especially the benefits businesses) for some time