Pros
I love working at Raymond James. It's a company that works hard to follow a set of principles towards clients and employees. In most every way, RJ doesn't just talk the talk, they walk the walk. When they talk about putting the client first, it's ingrained in the lexicon, processes, and approach. Everyone thinks it, and does their best to live up to it.
Pay isn't the best in the industry, but it's good for our geography. And for a decade, I've seen the people that perform the best, get rewarded in salary and responsibility.
The company strongly supports giving back to the community, with many dozens of charitable events and projects going on across the firm every year. In the department I worked in, there were ongoing, sanctioned committees to make available charitable activities for the department, and everyone was given some time off to participate directly, such as food warehouse stocking, holiday 'adoptions', helping the unemployed with resume and interview skills.
The firm, from the groups I've worked with across a decade, generally do not have gossipy, unproductive environments. There's not an abundance of debilitating tension or conflict. Everyone is excited about doing a great job, serving worthy clients and partners, and working with a great group of peers.
There are many, many roles you can pursue at RJ. I've seen employees go from role to role, department to department, as they round out their skills. Technology, finance, marketing, operations, there's plenty of internal career options. I would, and have, recommended to many friends and family to work at RJ. We're having a blast and providing an important service to clients.
Benefits are full, extra perk of top financial advisor for every employee, and good company stock program for all. Also, RJ as a business has been amazing, 105+ consecutive quarters of growth. That means security, stability, growth of your stock options, team, and opportunities.
Cons
Nepotism, is encouraged at RJ. There are quite a few husband and wife teams, and brothers, sisters, working at RJ. That can be a pro or a con, but I've never had a problem with it.
The firm is very conservative with investing in innovation and digital technologies. There are numerous core functions that go without attention at RJ, likely alone among their peers. Many of these functions I wouldn't run a small business without, and yet RJ doesn't invest in the basics. In some areas, RJ is absolutely the leader in their industry, and there are always new technologies to learn and grow. But even still, big holes remain as the company grows methodically.
Some micromanagement at dept head level. Not many middle managers are given full P&L responsibility.
