Best big company pension/retirement benefits, but very bureaucratic culture - Risk Controls Analyst TIAA Employee Review

4.0
29 Jun 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Retirement benefit contributions of up to 15% of salary and 401k matches means most long term employees are millionaires. The company's mission is built on honesty and integrity and on helping university, research, and culture institution employees attain retirement security. Very ethnically and culturally diverse management and employee base. Great level of overall benefits including tuition reimbursement of up to $8000/year.

Cons

Bureaucracy and a very slow to change culture. Uneven execution on corporate changes has caused many avoidable problems for the company and its clients. For better or for worse the company is becoming more sales oriented, like its chief rivals in the 401k and pension arena.

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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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