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Dunham & Associates

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Decent place to work, with big pros and big cons - Anonymous employee Dunham & Associates Employee Review

3.0
Jan 13, 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Nice people and good culture. Everyone knows each other and it promotes a more cooperative environment, as well as events every so often that promote office camaraderie. No petty office politics. - Open door policy with management. The managers I worked with are excellent at their jobs, intelligent, friendly, professional, and always make you feel like an important part of the team. - Placement in San Diego - not many financial services firms here period, much less a BD-RIA. The location is close to UTC and Del Mar if you want to unwind after work. - Stable hours and good work/life balance.

Cons

- There isn't much room for advancement. The way it is structured internally is that there is one head per department who also functions as your primary manager, and then everyone else under them. While you do get raises and small bonuses every few years depending on how long you stay, there is no room for merit-based promotions and none of the department heads look to be retiring anytime soon. You'll get some great entry-level and mid-career experience but if you have any kind of career ambition, you'll realize them elsewhere. - Pay and benefits are far below industry average for some positions, and aren't sustainable with the "California premium". I agree with the other review that it seemed like many employees were struggling financially.

Explore other reviews about Dunham & Associates

5.0
Mar 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

One of the biggest advantages of the role is the unique exposure you get to nearly every asset class, including equities, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset strategies. This has significantly accelerated my investment knowledge and broadened my understanding beyond a siloed position. I also benefit from a smaller firm structure where I get direct access to executive leadership, which provides mentorship, visibility, and a clearer pathway to increased responsibility within the firm. In addition, I get to work closely with world-class portfolio managers, which has strengthened my manager due diligence skills and given me insight into professional portfolio construction that many early-career professionals do not experience.

Cons

Promotion and title progression do not come easy, which ultimately builds credibility but can feel slow in the short term. I would also add that hybrid flexibility is limited to one department and in my opinion, should be either available to everyone or not at all.

4.0
Mar 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Dunham is a great place to start your career in the financial services industry. Leadership is very engaged and C level is full of smart individuals. Ryan, Helmut, and Sal are experienced and capable leaders who offer great mentorship and knowledge. size of firm enables lower level employees to voice their opinion. Lunch and breakfast are catered several times a month, and they make it a point to celebrate birthdays. office atmosphere is generally good.

Cons

PTO accrues very slowly for first few years. Compensation structure is too dependent on bonus and salary’s aren’t great. Against any remote work for most employees but ceo travels world working remotely and allows only specific groups to work remote ? 401k match isn’t up to par with industry standards and only benefits highest paid employees.

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