Thrivent reviews

The health insurance/ dental plans offered to "employees" is at a rate higher than one can buy in the local insurance market by him/herself. Too many middle managers collecting paychecks who don't understand "the customer" in this geographic area (Stearns and Benton counties). Relationship VS Transaction-based customers. Too many required meetings (sales pep-talks). For example, was told there would be one mtg per month (an hour's drive away), but ends up being 3-plus/mo. "Technology fee" was exhorbitant for mandatory, outdated, equipment which didn't work 25% of the time. Imagine trying to print out a financial analysis for a client- it doesn't print (even though you printed a different analysis 2 hours earlier on the same equipment); you're on hold for 15 minutes waiting for tech support; tech support tries to "fix" software glitch, but can't after 30 minutes; reboot system 3 times while reinstalling printer and network drivers that have always been installed; then you can finally print, but only in black ink because the technician believes he can't "fix" the problem.

Being an advisor means owning your own business every sense, from branding to marketing to cost to clients. It took me a while to figure that out, and, as any other business might, my business suffered. Plenty of folks who stare down that reality have a hard time facing it, and that's not Thrivent's fault, nor is it their own. It's merely a difference in character and drive, and why it is so difficult to "make it" in the advisor profession.