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Dimensional Fund Advisors

Engaged Employer

Career progression - yea get an MBA from a top university - Assistant Trading Dimensional Fund Advisors Employee Review

2.0
Jan 11, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great history and story to the company. Smart employees, but bad culture. Great place to learn how to be an indexer. How to process corporate actions. Learn how to elect on proxies!

Cons

A lot of "new" MBA's that say they are all about efficient markets only because if they don't they will probably be fired. Not open to ideas that the investment world is looking at. So it leaves you specialized to the point where nobody else cares how you view the world through a DFA investment microscope. Leaves you with little transferable skills because of the specialized nature of the firm. If you can stay and somehow find a niche then awesome, but like most people who leave you will find yourself exactly where you started with few skills added. In house processes exist and nobody wants to change them because they work. However, current employees don't even know what they really do because they didn't write the poorly constructed code in VB6. It is really a shame to see the new CEO incorporate all these performance reviews and micro-manage departments. I guess he should just eliminate all VPs in general and just micro-manage all departments.

Explore other reviews about Dimensional Fund Advisors

5.0
Jun 29, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent place to work. Many employees have been here several years. Team strategy aligns well with company goals. Technology teams are constantly reviewing better ways to use technology and provide learning opportunities for new skills, frameworks, and languages.

Cons

Not much to say here.

5.0
May 18, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Co-CEO Gerard O’Reilly always says, “Do the right thing, the right way, right away.” This is more than a mantra at DFA. These are good people, some of the smartest in the industry, and their bar is excellence. People sometimes joke about “drinking the DFA koolaid”. Here’s the koolaid: DFA doesn’t slap lipstick on a pig just to push product. DFA actually believes (and has been around long enough to prove) that you can lead with education, and IF your investment offering is genuinely good, the assets will naturally follow. Theirs is. What ex employee critics have said: “DFA moves too slow.” Fails to mention the likes of how DFA just led the industry with an absolute machete hacking thru the regulatory and operational jungle to pave a path for active share class for the good of investors. First filing? DFA. First to launch? DFA. Fast where it counts. “DFA doesn’t fund platforms for sales!” Indeed, would make life easier in some Sales channels, but would also impose more cost burden on end investors, so... The reality: Those who dance are considered insane by those who hear not the music. The firm, the philosophy, the people- all impressive. It has been one of the privileges of my career to work at Dimensional.

Cons

Hmm well the main grievance amongst the employee office committee was the insufficiency of the breakroom selection comprised of only of creamer, whole milk, 2%, and almond milk. I only hope the egregious omission has been remedied in the months since my departure and coconut milk added to said selection.

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