What's the best alternative to Fidelity? I'm getting tired of all the toxicity and having to play office politics, but everywhere I look the situation doesn't look much better. I'd hate to leave one cr-ppy workplace just to end up in a similar situation somewhere else. Do you know of any valid options?
11 replies (most recent on top)
I left Fidelity earlier this year for an RIA firm. Thankful for my time at Fidelity, but making the move was a great choice for me.
I quit, made a cardboard sign and stand at busy intersections near Fidelity office. I make more now and work less hours. Still deal with occasional a$$hole tho.
Left industry altogether. Less pay, but less stress. Just have to say “Welcome to Walmart” as customers arrive. Beats working the phones at Fido!
I know a few who went to TIAA, which is awful I hear, State Street, also a miserable sounding place and some others who went to small/local financial planning firms/law firms, which sound better than these large orgs, but I think a bit less pay and bene's. And yes totally toxic, but looking back I just tried to see it like the guys who went into the coal mines, that was probably was he-l, but I'll see it as them working to improve their families lives and hopefully their sacrifice advanced the next generation. If you can stand the suffering, your 401k will be your prize. Stay well...
The only good alternative is a permanent one. Already started a business. Corporate America is going to he-l in a hand basket
Left Fidelity after 5 years and went to Schwab. Same soup different bowl. Would not recommend. I’ve stayed in contact with a few former Fidelity employees over the years and I’ll ask them if they had to do it all over again-after leaving Fidelity-what would they have done differently. All of them have stated that they would have just gotten out of the industry all together. That's sad to hear because these are intelligent people with integrity who took pride in helping clients. I don’t think it matters where you go in the financial services industry. It's all the same garbage, in my opinion.
I always want to know where people went
Working for yourself is probably the best or one of the only ways to avoid that. But if the grass is greener for awhile, so be it. We all need a fresh start sometimes. At this point I would take it. Probably.
Agreed FCs are a joke. They know nothing and are so rude.
you exchange one sh---y place with another with the upside being increase in compensation. no need to work anywhere for more than 5 years max. Loyalty is dead. Take care of yourself and your family - do the best you can for that.
Change industries/sectors. Get a certificate if helpful for the new sector.