client services associate

investment banking analyst

financial advisor

registered client associate

analyst

Raymond James

This place is like the Red Lobster of the '80's...old, outdated and riding on a good reputation they once had decades ago. Do you like getting credit for your ideas? If so, don't work here as management will steal your ideas in a heart beat. Do you like decent benefits and wages? If so, Raymond James is not for you - the wages here are very sub-par, no 401k match, and you cannot pick what stocks you invest in. Out of their competitors, Raymond James is ranked 9th out of 10th - they make this up to the shareholders by keeping pay and benefits low. Check out the competition, like Fidelity, they have amazing benefits and pay way more. 
Do you like your weekends off? If so, don't work here as you will be working at least 80 hours a week. Remember how "click-y" high school was? Welcome to Raymond James High - unless you have worked here a minimum of 15 years, and are on a first name basis with all the VP's - good luck getting anything done. Be prepared for a fear based culture...most people on my team were divorced, extremely overweight, and suffered from anxiety or depression. Dare I mention the unusual rate of cancer and severe health issues? Do not get old or sick here - they will find ways to get rid of you. There is absolutely no family balance and unless you have the most understanding spouse ever, - you will end up divorced. Do you want to be valued as an employee? If so, go somewhere else. Do you like spending time with your kids, especially when they are sick? If so, don't work here as any sick day you take for your kid, they will say you are "not reliable" and dock you for attendance. Do you value diversity? If so then don't work here - upper management is all Anglo Saxon. 
In conclusion, this company used to be good, and there are still some good managers around from the old days, but they are far and few. This is a "chew you up and spit you out" fear-based environment. Be confident in yourself and realize there are a million better places to work, where you will be successful and you will be appreciated. Trust me, you can do better than this place.

Unskilled and unqualified managers and supervisors lead teams of poorly qualified associates. This is a direct result of the company’s endeavor to increase share price by paying qualified, experienced associates poorly forcing them to find other employment opportunities where salary is commensurate with their experience. These qualified associates are replaced by less experienced, unlicensed associates that can be compensated less and who are unable to perform all aspects of their position because they are not licensed properly. The job responsibilities of unlicensed associates are passed onto senior, licensed associates making their workload double or triple of the junior associates. There is no work life balance. Management has unrealistic expectations of how much work one person can do with total disregard for regulatory requirements. When these regulatory requirements are not met, blame is placed on associates despite the fact the company is intentionally understaffed to benefit share price and they do not have systems in place that can adequately address necessary compliance oversight. Benefits are terrible. Many associates have left the company due to the poor work environment, favoritism, poor compensation and the effects of stress on their physical and mental health. Used to be a wonderful company. A shame it has devolved into what it is today. 

I truly enjoyed working at Raymond James & Associates, corporate side.
The day started quickly (8:30am) and stayed fairly busy until after the end of the day (5pm).

I learned a great deal about the stock market, and how fragile it truly is.  I learned that most people really don't understand why stocks go up and why some companies fail.  I also learned how to make a fillable tax form for those running for political office.  Very interesting!!

Management, while no one is perfect, was pretty good.  Unfortunately, if you're not one of the producing Financial Advisors, you are replaceable, and don't forget it.

The support staff was amazingly helpful and most were very friendly.  We had the opportunity to go to lunch at the same time, which gave us time to be ourselves and become friendly with one another.

The hardest part of the job was keeping the Financial Advisors happy while still keeping in compliance.  Everyone is different, and you really need to understand how they all work, individually, and with their teams.  If your personality didn't match what they liked, they were not friendly.

The most enjoyable part of the job was meeting the clients and working with them as well as the other support staff members.  It certainly kept you on your toes!  I enjoyed interacting with the clients tremendously.

I was lucky to belong to a good team where I liked my manager and my teammates.  There was always support and our manager tried to be flexible as best as possible with trainings and work life balance.  

Sadly, minimal raises even though the company is doing so great as well as bonuses for those who left the team were absorbed by the company instead of being dispersed to the remaining team members who picked up the slack did not sit well with me. 

The total annual benefits package is also skewed since they include benefits that has a vesting schedule as if you are fully vested the year you receive the benefit which is not true.  It all depends on tenure and the vesting schedule. 

Upper management is trying to fill the seats in the building and if you are local, you are now going to be required to come into the office at least on a hybrid schedule. But majority of people being hired now in supervision and compliance are remote.  If you are local to St. Pete, fully remote is not an option as of now.  

I enjoyed my time at Raymond James and I am sad to have left my team but the company doesn't have a system or process in place to be able to compete or counter offers quickly. 



I work with a team of 5 other people, in a very prestige financial platform that has been closed since 2002, yet allowed for past Financial Advisors to continue in the Program.

On a daily basis, I speak with Financial Advisors Nation wide, solve problems related to all Investment Options. Additionally, I am solely in charge of approving every new Client into the Program and work closely with my Supervisor to solve critical issues.

My co-workers and I work closely on projects as well as maintain our own daily tasks. Aside from taking care of our career duties, we also have a great relationship and work on team building once a month.

The most difficult part of my position is learning to diffuse negative situations and help the Financial Advisors understand practices must be changed.

The most enjoyable part of my position ties in with the most difficult. I enjoy a challenge and really like utilizing my communication skills. Therefore, explaining issues to advisors, gaining their understanding and turning a large issue into one that is accepted is a very enjoyable part of my day.

The description for a New Accounts Associate is totally inaccurate. You will go through hours of financial terminology and processes training to come out and actually only be a Technical Support Call Center Associate. Due to a failed corporate wide system overhaul, you will literally sit on a phone for 8+ hours a day trying to figure out computer error codes with understandably upset Financial Advisors and associates. The actual technical support department for the company was purposely not put in the loop of the new system upload and are not authorized to help with the incoming problems incurred with it. The tech support associates can receive discipline for attempts to correct the errors received. High turn over rates, even with seasoned/seniors associates that are stressed out. Mandatory overtime and a shift that is micromanaged in 15 minute increments. You do not actually receive all of advertised vacation time. There is also a 90 day freeze on any promotion received -meaning you cannot leave New Accounts for 90 days if you receive a promotion, which in turn is causing other departments to not hire from New Accounts, because if they need an associate in two weeks, they cannot afford to wait 90 days for the needed employee.

Raymond James is a rapidly growing financial regional wirehouse. I worked in many capacities, training new hires, and helping clients with statements and tax forms. I worked in several departments over a 21 year time frame, the last 6 months out of my home remotely in Wilmington, NC, which I enjoyed the least, since I was away from people. This was the hardest part of my job because I had to handle everything by phone and email and had no personal contact with management or coworkers.
The most enjoyable part of my job was seeing the results of the trainees as they were able to do their jobs on their own after going through my training. I also greatly enjoyed problem solving for clients.
I had several managers over the years and had a good working relationship with each of them. Raymond James emphasizes service first and I learned to implement this concept into all projects and training, as well as the design of our online investor access system. 
My typical day was never typical as it was different each day. But my day always involved training others, answering emails and client calls, problem solving and usually a meeting or two.

This is the cheapest company I have ever worked for.  They boast having record-breaking revenue but only give their associates 2% raises each year whether you are registered or non-registered.  Expect your FINRA licenses not to hold any value at Raymond James.  Expect to work your tail off for over 6 years and never receive a promotion, title change or significant pay increase.  Expect horrible health insurance through UnitedHealth.  Expect favoritism and nepotism at every turn.   Expect to be frustrated with too many unregistered associates with zero experience both at branch level and at home office.  Expect lazy home office associates, always giving the branch incorrect info.  Expect cheap and rude FAs.  Expect slow, beta-looking tech.  Each tech update adds more work on branch associates.  Branch associates in metro cities are treated and paid like the bottom of the barrel.  Expect gaslighting to the highest degree.  Expect your managers to lie right to your face.  MASSIVE turnaround, people are always leaving this place for better firms.  This place has potential but had a long way to go.  

Working for Raymond James was a great challenge although initially it may not have felt that way. I was only working on Payroll, but it was a national payroll with components and processes I hadn't been exposed to before. This gave me the opportunity to learn and increase my understanding of different state and local taxes as well as garnishments and other deductions. I also had the chance to learn more about the investment world and see how different products were used as well as the chance to work with people all over the country since I supported branches from California to New York. The team I worked with was excellent and was as varied as the investment products the company offered. This keep even a slow day interesting most of the time. Although opportunity to advance was limited I was always encouraged to do more and when given the chance usually I was able to surprise other departments with great work despite not having the same level of training and education.

I receive thinly veiled threats implying that I should do whatever it takes to get the work done.  They know there is enough work to call for hiring extra associates but they see that we have been working over time for well over a year so the message received is that we have been doing it so we can continue doing it. Our personal lives are not a concern to them.

Management is not interested in personal development. They are only interested in what you can do for them.  Pay is not on par with industry standards.  Favoritism is rampant.  Inappropriate relationships between management and subordinates is basically condoned, so if that behavior is accepted then you know other inappropriate behavior is overlooked.  These things are swept under the rug so that RJ's reputation remains spotless.

Speaking up, providing anything less than positive feedback around here gets you nothing but reprisals.  Their associate insight surveys that are done bi-annually result in apathy from upper management.  They like to appear as if they are acting on the results but they don't.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Client services associate 61 salaries reported	$56,636 per year
Investment banking analyst 38 salaries reported	$114,671 per year
Financial advisor 41 salaries reported	$63,899 per year
Registered client associate 37 salaries reported	$65,297 per year
Analyst 8 salaries reported	$74,625 per year

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