Thrivent Financial Reviews

Pros

A chance to make helping people your profession, as well as be ethical and generous in what you do... It's certainly hard work, but it truly helps you find out who you really are.

Cons

Being an advisor means owning your own business every sense, from branding to marketing to cost to clients. It took me a while to figure that out, and, as any other business might, my business suffered. Plenty of folks who stare down that reality have a hard time facing it, and that's not Thrivent's fault, nor is it their own. It's merely a difference in character and drive, and why it is so difficult to "make it" in the advisor profession.

Advice to Senior Management

Continue to refocus your efforts on localities rather than the national brand. Because your advisors own the business, they rely on you to support them face-to-face.

Pros

Management treats everyone with respect, keeps us informed, values the members and employees. There is a volunteer spirit; respectful environment; ethical attitude; community and service minded employees and employers; fun activities; healthy attitude; social activities; fitness center; challenging work.

Cons

if you struggle with sittling and working in cubicles and do not like some detail oriented work, the work itlsef can be boring sometimes. Such is the nature of insurance and finance work, that's life! The great staff and all the pros about the company (giving spirit, respectful, etc), make up for the down side though.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep salary levels in step with competitors so you do not lose talented staff. For example, increase pay when giving promotions to staff; do not only increase pay at the annual performance review time. It devalues the appreciation of staff effort by not giving a raise at the time of promotion. A promotion is a good thing but often gets overlooked and barely acknowledged in the salary review, since salary review is only at the annual performance review. Allow employees to have input at the annual salary review. When someone is promoted to a new level or position, give them a good raise with that promotion!

Pros

The financial advisers are knowledgeable and ethical, and the service level for clients is excellent. I would definitely do business with this company and their advisers.

Cons

As an assistant to an adviser, there were no benefits included in my job and few opportunities to receive pay increases.

Advice to Senior Management

Include assistants and lower level employees in the benefit plan in order to keep the employees you have. Institute programs that foster advancement.

Pros

Best place to work in the country! There is a common concern for every employee as well as every member that has a policy or policies with this company.

Cons

Computers are a fact of life, but constant change of programs & software can drive you crazy! Also it would be great for H.O. employees to know more about how the agents in the field, who work to write the business that fuels the co. work. H.O. voice mail is awful!!!

Advice to Senior Management

Making agents computer tech's pretty much cancels out a saleperson abilities... As you hire more techies and your experienced selling agents retire, who is going to sell the industries best products. It is time to reinvest in your experienced (20 years plus) agents. The internet and H.O. FAC will not take their place...

Pros

Mission based organization which gives you a chance to make long term decisions that are in the best interest of our members. Incredible commitment to work life balance and community service.

Cons

The culture is still in development. The CEO is leading the organization in a new direction. Many of the employees have been there for a very long time. The business model is very unique. Both of these things can make it hard for new hires.

Pros

Great worklife balance at the company

Cons

No one works very hard

Advice to Senior Management

Make sure employees are committed to performance

Pros

flexible schedule, no micro managing

Cons

very expensive personal overhead costs, favortism shown toward top producers

Advice to Senior Management

dont set minimum sales requirements for certain products (annuities). that encourages reps to push products that may not be appropriate for the client

Pros

Great client base. Corporate is nice. H.O. support improving significantly. Co has a great rep amongst those that know us.

Cons

Insurance product is primary focus. This can be very challenging when building a practice and focus on comprehensive financial planning. Thrivent only products .

Advice to Senior Management

Tap the independent channel.

Pros

Thrivent's culture is very friendly and community service minded. There are plenty of opportunities to learn and develop and leadership is very supportive of development opportunities and work hard to provide them for their staff. Pay and benefits are very competitive and work life balance is respected. It is wonderful to see the impact this company has on the community through charitable contributions. I don't think I've ever worked at a company who has surpassed their United Way goals 2 years in a row!

Cons

Decision making can be slow.

Pros

Very few. Maybe that they will give you a few clients when you start, but realise these client will have been picked over many times.

Cons

Compensation, management, products, company culture, morale, technology. Is there anything else that can be bad?

Advice to Senior Management

Fire the all senior management and start over. As long as you care about money, and don't care about reps and clients your are on the wrong path.