A strong vision that gets lost in the details - Senior Analyst TIAA Employee Review

3.0
1 May 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good benefits, strong values, customer-focused, and the training programs are incredible. I could talk all day about employees that are more than willing to become a mentor or coach, and there are hundreds of classes to help career development. I've had 8 managers and most of them were very good at their job and are good leaders and coaches. Working with many more managers I could see the same. The company will typically hire the right people for all the jobs. Most benefits are great like the health insurance, retirement, and paid-time off (minimum of 23 days).

Cons

While there is a strong vision at the upper level, they have a false vision of what's truly going on at all levels. There is so much bureaucracy and an over-filled hierarchy that slows progress. Deadlines are continually pushed back as there is much tape to go through. Getting excited about any new technology or process is quickly forgotten in the midst of the challenges. You can see this in everyone's eyes when you tell them about new improvements - they'll just roll their eyes. Throughout this process, the upper management is told that everything is going well when the people lower in the hierarchy see nothing different than business as usual. Furthermore, moving around in the company is rather difficult. Positions open and you never hear anything until months later. Typically, the position will never be filled. This has happened at least 20 times (no exaggeration) with me and several other employees. Also, the pay ranges have been restricted and many people haven't seen raises for years, or minimal raises. Many people don't think they're being paid what they're worth.

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5.0
26 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

good benefits good training room for career advancement

Cons

can be easy to get by doing the bare minimum

2.0
4 Jul 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good starting salary and benefits package.

Cons

The longer you’re there, the more of an expectation that you work more for the same or less income. Producers find it hard to justify staying when leadership keeps moving the goal posts on how to increase income. No rhyme or reason as to how they decide “promotions.” One advisor might have one good year and get promoted over an advisor that produces year in and year out. They fail to share revenue because they’d have a hard time justifying the income level compared to outside advisors with a fraction of the book size. They claim and depend on brand recognition to justify a capped income but fail, or just won’t admit that is why they keep losing their top talent. Operations is a nightmare that I can’t even begin to describe. When I share the processes that have been in place for over a decade, colleagues in the industry shake their head and laugh. They can’t believe we earn and keep business. The saying while I was there was “the biggest threat we face is that TIAA clients start to explore their options outside of TIAA.”

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