Obstructed by politics - Anonymous employee Hightower Advisors Employee Review

1.0
Oct 18, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The people are the best part of the firm.

Cons

Too many to list, bottom line the firm is filled with political games and favorites. So many hardworking people are taken for granted and there are many people in many departments who have no business managing people or making decisions. Scroll the glass door reviews and nearly all of the high scores are written by the people who are favored or their subordinates. The president used to be a favorite of employees and now he is just a shell of a leader who can no longer look people in the eye with genuine sincerity.

Explore other reviews about Hightower Advisors

5.0
Feb 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The culture here is incredible

Cons

There are a lot of changes constantly

1.0
Jan 30, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

A handful of genuinely good people who try to do the right thing and support their teammates. The work can be interesting at times, and you can learn a lot if you’re proactive.

Cons

The culture here used to be one of the best parts of the job, but over the last two years it’s pretty much disappeared. Leadership keeps pushing more in-office time, and the reasoning given in all-hands meetings feels disconnected from reality. It comes off as out of touch, and things like “bagels in the office” are honestly more insulting than motivating. The team dynamic has also changed for the worse. It doesn’t feel like people are working together anymore. A lot of folks are just trying to protect themselves and avoid blame rather than collaborate, which creates a stressful and political environment. Larry in particular is seen by many as elitist and overly intense. The expectation seems to be that people should just grind until they burn out or leave. There’s very little concern for sustainability or long-term morale, and turnover feels accepted rather than addressed. On top of that, the private equity ownership creates constant anxiety. It feels like they’re more interested in being the first to sell than in being the best company. If an exit opportunity comes up, it’s hard to believe the company wouldn’t be gutted. Layoffs feel likely at some point, especially given how often management relationships with firms like Goldman Sachs are brought up.

3
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