Pros
I cherished many colleagues at Franklin Templeton. The firm is filled with very smart people, with much integrity across the board. Investment professionals take their fiduciary responsibilities seriously. Also, working there was a great learning experience. Of course, the benefits are excellent, and there is stability in working for a fortune 500 type company.
Cons
Morale is low. Franklin missed the ETF boom, and is losing assets to index managers and other low cost providers. So, assets and revenues are moving backwards. My sense is that take-home pay is moving backwards for most folks as well, which is tough, as the firm is based in high-rent San Francisco area. Every year employees get asked to do even more with less. Many employees are discouraged, and would rather work for a company with more growth.