Redwood Trust Reviews

Pros

Value everyone’s contribution, actively soliciting feedback at all levels within the organization.

Good quality of life/work balance.

Work gets done in a non-hierarchical, hard-working and fun environment.

Cons

Communication is at times inadequate. Senior management hesitant to promote middle associates to higher-level positions. Organization can be a bit cliquey.

Advice to Senior Management

Focus more on career development -- recognizing and developing internal talent.
Working on correcting perception that who you know, not what you know, determines success within the organization.

Pros

decent comp.
lots of social events to make up for the crap work environement

Cons

Hyper - political
Old Boys Network - "if you ain't in the in...you ain't gettin in" (no respect for women or diversity)
Management ranks are poor except for a select few
They talk a lot of game in the diversity, work life and equality areas but have no intention of delivering
Static business model.......unable to game change their business - no real thought leaders there!

Advice to Senior Management

Why bother....these guysare all Prima Donnas that wouldn't listen to advice unless from their own mouth (no women - the recent CFO hire is a figurehead hire - don't be fooled)

Pros

Very bright, hard-working team at Redwood. Chance to learn from some of the best in the business.

Cons

Culture encourages cliques, more favorable to men than women.

Advice to Senior Management

Reward people based on job performance not personal relationships

Pros

George Bull and his senior management team has made Redwood Trust a great company to work for because they value their people. The culture is very distinct and to succeed, you'll need to work hard, adapt, and fit in. Employees are valued and developed with regular coaching and training. There are plenty of activities organized by employees to get to know each other.

Cons

Building relationships with key people means success. None means you're stuck or you're out. It's just the way things work. Life's not fair and that's reality.

Advice to Senior Management

Not all people are qualified to be managers. They may be great at their jobs but coaching and developing people may not be their strength. Subordinates suffer because of that. Managers will continue to need training to improve their skills.

Pros

Business model works in a bull real estate market. As a REIT, very lofty goal to compete with GSE - Yahoo's Business Summary: Redwood Trust, Inc., a financial institution, together with its subsidiaries, invests in, finances, and manages real estate assets. The company invests in residential and commercial real estate loans, and in asset-backed securities backed by real estate loans. It credit-enhances loans by acquiring and managing the first-loss and credit-sensitive securities that bear the credit risk of securitized loans. For federal income tax purposes, the company is structured as a real estate investment trust (REIT). As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal corporate income taxes if it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. Redwood Trust, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is based in Mill Valley, California.

Cons

REIT model does not enable negative view and bets towards downside

Advice to Senior Management

Bunker down, it's going to be tough for the next couple of years. No advice needed since the Senior Management has been though this type of adversity before and survived.

Pros

This is a great place to have your first job. You will be able to learn a lot in a relative short time. If you manage to get up to manager here you'll be set.

Cons

Don't expect a huge pay or sincere interest in a personal development tailored to your needs (unless you are nearing manager level). Recognition only comes from your direct managers and peers if you manage your relationship well. Senior management (Partners) will not know who you are unless you will be able to distinguish yourselfs from several dozen peers. Significant investement required, don't count on a Work/Life Balance that would fit a 8to17 job. Find one fitting 7to22.

Advice to Senior Management

Lead by example, do what you say and promise.

Pros

used to be a great place to learn
used to have a great culture and a fun work environment
then it turned into a frat house and politics took over
and the mortgage industry went down the drain
at this point they are just fighting to stay afloat

Cons

company will probably be downsizing from 90 employees to 20 to stay in business
if you can't booze and schmooze, you can't advance
a lot of scandals between employees
hard for women and minorities to advance
does not promote from within
high turnover

Advice to Senior Management

don't pretend to be a wall street company, when you pay like a credit union

Pros

Redwood gives superior salaries to make up for the hours and demands. They also highly encourage you to learn about the industry and to move between departments. They pay for their employees to take a Volunteer day and do various outings to promote team building.

Cons

The COO, recently promoted from VP of Residential has a poor attitude toward his workers and can often be heard yelling and demeaning them. If you are not a part of his Frat Boy Club, you are most likely to be let go in less than two years and not have opportunities for promotion.

Advice to Senior Management

Get rid of the COO as he sleeps around and plays favorites.