financial consultant

director

wealth management advisor

consultant

analyst

TIAA

Worked on the complete life cycle of the project from design to implementation
 	Based on business requirement, developed the Complex SQL queries with Joins and T-SQL, Stored procedure, Views, Trigger to implementing the business rules and transformations. 
 	Data Analysis and Designed the logical and physical model architecture for database. 
 	Interacted directly with the various SME for gathering the business requirements. 
 	Involved in Design DW of Star Schema (Dimensional model and Fact tables) based on business.
 	Convert data from Legacy system to SQL Database.
 	Used ETL SSIS to develop jobs for extracting, cleaning, transforming and loading data into data warehouse.
 	Created SSIS packages to load data into Data Warehouse using Various SSIS Tasks like Execute SQL Task, bulk insert task, Execute package task, Send mail task, Transfer database task, for loop & for-each loop containers.
 	Extensively involved in designing the SSIS packages to export data of flat file source to SQL Server database.
 	Involved in creating SSIS jobs to automate the reports generation, cube refresh packages.
 	Worked on SSIS transformations like Conditional Split, Lookup, Fuzzy grouping, Merge, Union All, Data conversion, Multicast, Pivot & Un-Pivot.
 	Designed high level ETL architecture for overall data transfer from the OLTP to OLAP with the help of SSIS.
 	Deploy SSIS Package into Production and used Package configuration to export various package properties to make package environment independent.
 	Designed high level ETL architecture for overall data transfer from the source server to the Enterprise Services Warehouse which encompasses server name, database name, accounts, tables and direction of data flow, Column Mapping, Data dictionary and Metadata
 	Prepared the complete data mapping for all the migrated jobs using SSIS
 	Data Migration from Flat files, CSV, MS-Access, Excel and OLE DB to SQL Database.
 	Using SSIS, loaded XML data to the Database tables.
 	Generated XML files from Database tables.
 	Used SSIS to pull data from Sales Audit OLTP and load it in SQL Data Warehouses for reporting purposes.
 	Created /modified and maintained the ETL packages- Extraction, Transformation and Loading of data from various Database tables i.e., from Source Tables to Mapping the Target table in respective databases.
 	Performed T-SQL tuning and optimization of queries for reports that took longer execution time using MS SQL Profiler, Index Tuning Wizard and SQL Query Analyzer in MS SQL Server 2005
 	Created many complex Stored Procedures/Functions and used them in Crystal Reports directly to generate reports on the fly Scheduled, maintained, and supported the distribution and access to reports through Crystal Server.
 	Collected data from Various Heterogeneous database/files like MS SQL, DB2, ORACLE, Flat File, Access, Sybase, EXCEL sheets, CSV format and used complex data conversion to target.
 	Created User Defined Functions, Triggers to store data into appropriate tables as and when data arrives and created indexes to the tables that have least updating to improve the query performance.
 	Scheduling and monitoring the regular jobs and ETL packages.
 	Used ADO.net connection, .net and C# code in SSIS Script task.
 	Involved in Query optimization, performance tuning and index creation.
 	Developed custom selection of reports ordering using SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)
 	Used SSRS to create reports, customized Reports, on-demand reports. 
 	Database Backup and restoring the database, worked in Database Security, Replication and Log shipping activities.
 	Validating and Testing of the Database data, SQL codes and application (White box and Black box)



Environment: MS SQL Server 2008/2012 (Denali), SSIS 2008, SSRS 2008, SSAS 2008, Perforce, Unix Shell Scripting, Java, ORACLE 11G, DB2, TOAD, TFS 2010,  MS Visio, MS Access, T-SQL, PL SQL,  MDX, C#, VB Script, .Net 4.0, XML, SharePoint.

From the top down, TIAA’s leadership is extremely poor, to say the very least. Upper management constantly pushes “improvements” (i.e. cheaper software replacements) through without prior notice or training leaving its customers beyond frustrated, and its employees looking like incompetent imbeciles. TIAA is constantly trying to find ways to cut costs, and it truly shows. From terrible, cheap and dated software, to even worse hardware, TIAA’s employees are often left stranded with no solutions to provide to their customers. TIAA claims to care about its customers as it’s a “not-for-profit”, so they tiptoe around sales terminology, referring to it as “advocacy” instead. TIAA’s flagship investment, TIAA Traditional, is truly garbage, and is the cause of at least 70% of TIAA’s customers’ frustration. The only way TIAA is able to retain a customer base is to lock them into illiquid investments, and by wooing large organizations to allow them to manage their retirement accounts. Once a participant moves on from an employer for which they’ve had a TIAA account, 90% of the time they run as fast as they can to Fidelity, Vanguard, et al, and wisely so! If you actually care about taking care of your customers, TIAA is not the place to be. Oh yeah, and 50% of your scorecard, which is how TIAA determines how much of a bonus you’ll receive each year, is based on Voice of the Client (VOC) reviews. With terrible products, web design and no solutions, it’s easy to get dogged on in a VOC for something that is completely and totally out of your control. If you’re considering a career in the Financial Services industry, do not — I repeat — DO NOT work for TIAA. If you’re a lazy, incompetent slug of a human being, then TIAA is the place for you. TIAA bleeds top talent so that all that’s left to promote are the idiots that stick around due to their own incompetence and lack of ambition.

In all the years I have been in Project Management I have never seen an establishment run the way I did while working at TIAA. My introduction to the culture at TIAA began with an immediate discovery that my new manager had zero integrity. My first day there he/she filled me in on all the gossip by listing everyone on the teams personal problems. The following week I was expected to do unethical things in order to get my job done faster, of course I didn't do them. They manage by being verbally and mentally abusive and when you push back they either threaten you or begin their most enjoyable part of their job which is ending your career there as quickly as it started. The enjoyment I saw from managers actually excited to make their direct reports miserable and quit was disgraceful. If you quit they can replace you but if they fire you they have to prove your position is needed and it's a long process. That was the explanation I was given when I called my manager on his behavior. 

Also when I went to my managers with a concern that I had with a member of another team on my project not performing they happily pulled me into a conference room so we could all plan emails and instant messages to get that person fired. The thought of maybe we can approach things this way or that way was never discussed. It was like ok let's take this person out and they all got excited. It's really sad the enjoyment these people get out of making people miserable and setting them up for failure. It is a huge boys club here so unless you are ok having weekly dinners where they trash their entire team and you if you miss dinner, and drink like fish to avoid going home to their families; I suggest you look elsewhere. 

Most importantly women do NOT apply. The reasons why I am saying that would fill up this entire box and then some.

I worked for TIAA-CREF for many years. Like most companies this company has kept up with the changes required to build a successful Organization. The company's benefit package which includes salary was quite attractive in former days. For the majority of my life there, my experience has equipped me to understand many aspects of real life challenges, including budgeting, preparing for my senior years, family and being able to control my life. My last manager really worked with us on Job Work/Life Balance. She was empathetic but ensured that our job was executed in timely manner, the quality had to good and coached us to deliver the best quality within the allotted or before the turn around time. Today, with the changing world, Management had to make decisions that were not always favorable to all workers. Cost to serve was one of the main topics and many changes had to take place. This may have caused some tension, however, if you maintained good working habits ( quality & productivity) then there was some assurance that your job was secured. No Organization could promise its workers retention, raises, bonuses to name a few that was previously enjoyed. The years of working with TIAA-CREF have given me family and friends that are lifelong. I am thankful to TIAA-CREF for the benefits and opportunities given to me. The feeling of serving the clients and hearing them say to you,  "TIAA-CREF will continue to manage my money and render thanks for clarifying their questions made for an enjoyable day and satisfaction. Wishing TIAA-CREF many more years, having founded in 1918. I miss my colleagues.

The scope and scale of responsibilities of many jobs are broad and on any given day, you can be working on any number of matters, from routine transactional routines to complex strategic planning for multi-year periods.

That's because 80% of the work is done by 20% of the employees, and there are plenty of opportunities for a dynamic individual to make significant contributions which are personally rewarding. Many employees still suffer from an entitlement mentality that continues despite significant inroads in performance pay programs and other incentives. One key requirement for success is the ability for one to operate in a extensive committee environment as the cornerstone for most the company's decision making processes. Some people find that frustrating, particularly the emphasis on all-inclusive group decisions. This situation tends hamper effective nimbleness and reaction time as events unfold.

Most people who work there are friendly and respectful to one another. Consequences for behavior otherwise isn't well tolerated by the company.

Unlike many successful companies that have emerged from the technology boom, there is no atmosphere of "fun" at the job. That is not to say, the working environment isn't pleasant, but if you are looking for something more, this isn't the place for you.

This is not the time to join TIAA. It has changed significantly in the past two years with some major senior leadership/executive changes and decisions with removing and vacating TWS (work from home) employees in 2019, and VSP program in 2020 that drove lots of  top talents and great leaders to leave this company. It focuses on reducing cost measures that drove talents away versus retaining talents. 
Due to many top talent leaving the company, some very inadequately skilled employees are being promoted to senior leadership positions, which has further resulted this company to be political, bureaucratical, and relationship-driven. Knowing how to play politics and focus on relationships is the key to thrive with this company, not good performance and contributions. This company already has lots of broken processes and will be even more of a hot mess in the next year or so. As a continued customer, I don't have much confidence about this company's future and where it is headed based on the inside employee experience. 
Too much focus on things that are not related with improving the business or making money. For example, it highly promotes diversity & inclusion and spends a lot of $$ on the D&I programs, but it only works in the favor of certain “groups”, so essentially becoming less diverse. 
Only thing good to say about this company is its total pay with good compensation rate, but even that is likely to change and can't be guaranteed due to the pandemic and losing of product competitiveness comparing to its competitors. 


A typical day at work would be:
- investigating goals and issues
- analyzing information
- communicating with a wide variety of people
- documenting findings
- evaluating solutions
I as a junior business analyst,  spend a good deal of time asking questions. To have an fair understanding the project and possible solutions, I conducted interviews, read, and observe work in progress. 

Analysis is just the nature of the job as an analyst, therefore spend a great deal of time analyzing the information, on the constant lookout for any information regarding the project to ensure that it was current, thorough, and accurate.

Probing deeply for the sources of a problem and potential solutions was a vital part of my job. The more informed I am about the project, the better solution driven I was. 

Many problems suggest multiple solutions, hence I spend lots of time analyzing and comparing solutions and weighing them against the actual needs. 
 
I am very friendly in nature and warm, hence have absolutely no problem in communicating anything in a professional as well as friendlier manner. 

The hardest part of my job was to invite myself in some of the meetings that I thought was relevant for my project and other groups didnt. It was hard convincing other groups, that my goal was their goal to achieve the solution in a timely manner with the most accurate solution.

The most enjoyable part of my job was to have the freedom to work from home, from campus, any given time. The company only cared that the work was being done, didint matter what time in the day or night hence in having the freedom from anywhere was the most enjoyable part of my job at Tiaa-Cref

The job pays well overall and the workload is not too heavy most days.  Most of the team spends about half the day socializing with one another so it makes for a pretty laid back job to be completely honest.  It is definitely one of the easier jobs I've had in terms of how hard I have to work. 

There is a lot of favoritism on the team.  The leaders and managers are more likely to talk to you and coach you if they are in cahoots with you in some way, whether that be from knowing you from a previous job or being friends outside of work.  It seems to be based primarily on how much the management team likes you. Unfortunately, this also translates into more coaching, feedback and a more interpersonal relationship with certain folks on the team as compared to others.

Management and leaders on the team especially seem to be more biased towards the same demographic that they are themselves.  I can see why some say they don't feel like they are treated the same as certain members on the team and this is kind of a 'hushed' sentiment among a few of us. Certain people on the team seem to have been hired more out of knowing someone from a previous job than having qualifications with TIAA, since a lot of the team was hired externally.  I feel like this causes a little friction with the seasoned TIAA workers and the ones hired externally.

At the end of the day, it's not a bad job but the 'cliques' on the team can give it a high school type feeling in terms of the operation of everything as a whole.  The team does not feel like a unit, but rather several 'cliques' that come together as one in meetings across sites.

As a UX Lead, do not expect to have much time to design, but you will be required to none the less. The UX Lead will be held responsible to do a mixture of jobs that are combined into one. 

Those jobs include the following: UX Director, Project Manager, and Information Architect

This is what you will have to do, and you will have no choice, unless to quit or be let go. More than likely you will setup meetings all day, facilitate them and then report back to a director that really doesn't understand good design or what that even means. It's even worse if you're a contractor. 

Management and Leadership have no clue what their doing. Not just in UX but the entire company as a whole. From Marketing, to Tech, to different lines of business. If they did, they would realize how horrible their process is and change it. 

Apparently a major change has not been initiated due to the laziness of management. They know what needs to be changed, but won't because they can't actually lock down a great form of working habits, usually because they don't really work themselves.

If you are a worker bee of any kind: Business Analyst, Content Writer, Marketing Strategist, Developer, Ui/UX Designer or anything else that does not involve a management title... please steer clear of this place, unless of course you wish to waste your time running in circles.

There is no amount of money that I would ever accept in order to do this job again,

Do not work here.  It's a passive aggressive, "kiss-the-ring", stale culture that's filled with has-beens.  People smile to your face and stab you in the back.  The veterans that have remained here for so long have evolved to protect their own seat at all costs, so finger pointing/blaming, lack of accountability, and sabotaging ensue, especially now given the markets are volatile and the recent asset management acquisitions have been making everyone nervous about losing their jobs. Instead of looking to thrive as a business, people are too busy putting energy into identifying and creating coworker scapegoats for their own ineptitude, insecurities, and sub-standard work.  Top management have their "pets" and turn blind eyes to bad behavior yet are hypocritical to/come down hard on all others. The firm thinks they are going to be the top 10 global player, and they are delusional - they are not a BlackRock or JPMorgan or Fidelity to name a few.  They tout how they live by their "values" but it's all for show just to say they are doing it.  The reality is the place is a joke.  Try finding that news article about their "voluntary retirement" internal announcement recently.  Read their internal memo - it's written with a "smile of the face" and stresses "voluntary" but really you know what the secret really is - age discrimination and trying to save a few bucks.  It's a highly stingy/cheap organization.  They are hurting badly but don't want to admit it to save face and to placate the participants. This institution is a loser, and so are the people who are still working there.

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