Young college grads: Run! - Financial Advisor AXA Employee Review

1.0
May 7, 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

This company will sponsor you since they are a brokerage aka: you need to be employed by one to become a financial advisor. That is as far as it will go. You will pay literally everything out of pocket for your series exams. ($700-$1500). They will also allow you to get access to study materials to pass the Series exams and SIE, which you are also financially responsible for.

Cons

Everything else. They will not pay you a dime until you are fully licensed. When they finally do pay you, the base is $2,000 a MONTH gross (before taxes). That's a $700 paycheck every two weeks. When making this offer, they will present you 2-3 different pay structures. One of them is full 1099 (contractor), you will not make a dime, but will keep a high commission percentage. "Building your book of business" is a lot of reaching out to grandma and grandpa to see if they'd be interested in signing on for life insurance and framing it as, "financial advising." Embarrassing. Other companies offer vastly greater support and better benefits, you can and should do better. Given that the company is located in LA, where the median rent for a 1-bedroom is $2,661, it is completely absurd and exploitative to offer employees a base pay of $2,000 a month before taxes and zero financial support during the 2-3 months they are studying for their exams. Your hiring manager will pump you up, and they will make promises, as every company does, but don't be fooled. If you can find another opportunity: PLEASE do yourself a favor and find it. I accepted this job offer when I was 21, fresh out of college and was naive. You are at your most vulnerable then. As a 25 year old, I wouldn't recommend this career path, and this heinous pay to anyone. Do yourself a favor and negotiate your base, or better yet: find a company that will pay you a livable wage and won't push you to go full 1099.

Explore other reviews about AXA

5.0
Apr 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The pension fund is better then expec

Cons

It is a stressful job with a lot of costumer

3.0
Jan 28, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong work–life balance: Working hours are generally reasonable, and personal time is respected. Stable and reputable company: AXA is a well-established global organization with long-term stability. Clear processes and governance: Well-defined procedures help reduce ambiguity and manage risk effectively. Global exposure: Opportunity to work with international teams and align with global standards. Professional working environment: Emphasis on compliance, ethics, and accountability. Learning opportunities: Access to training, documentation, and structured knowledge resources. Predictable workload: Less firefighting compared to fast-paced startups.

Cons

Slow decision-making: Multiple approval layers can delay execution and innovation. Limited flexibility in processes: Strong governance may feel restrictive for employees who prefer autonomy. Compensation growth can be gradual: Salary increases and promotions may be slower compared to startups or tech firms. Change management can be conservative: Adopting new tools or approaches often takes time. Bureaucracy: Documentation and compliance requirements can feel heavy at times. Innovation pace varies by team: Some teams move faster than others depending on leadership and region.

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