Vantaggi
The working environment in the branches is excellent if you like autonomy and an emphasis on developing local markets creates opportunities for regular face-to-face interactions with clients, who like the convenience of the neighborhood locations, making it easier to build lasting relationships.
Svantaggi
Problems arise with the lack of advanced training; a limited technology platform; a weak line-up of investment product offerings; little to no research, or at least not that is very useful anyway (see lack of advanced training); pricing and payout options that favor the firm over the producer; conflicts of interest regarding revenue sharing arrangements with vendors that are not properly disclosed to clients; poor supervision of inexperienced advisors working in the field and very poor marketing materials.