Pros
Lab49 takes a lot of pride in hiring the best of the breed, so you will find yourself surrounded by really talented individuals. There is a lot of emphasis on learning, and peer based training. Lab49 generally pays 10-15% more base compensation than most financial firms and they also give out a guaranteed bonus. Vacation time is generally a week more than most companies, and the health benefits are at par with most financial firms. This place is almost devoid of politics, so if you are a geek and enjoy technical aspects of your job then this is the place to be at.
Cons
Once you get into lab49, promotions are very difficult to get, you could find yourself stuck at the same level, with the same pay for upwards of 2 years in most cases. You get geekier and geekier, but if you aspire for middle-management jobs, then this place is not for you. You may find yourself shuttling from project to project and the duration of some of the projects could be as less as 3-4 weeks.