Vantaggi
The GE Benefits package in it's entirety remains a solid positive for this large conglomerate. Specifically the pension plan plus the 401k including a 3% employer match are very good parallel benefits. Their Health care program is as good but probably no longer better than other large capitalization stocks.
Svantaggi
The Board of Directors of GE and it's 400 officers have systematically damaged the Value as measured by market capitalization ($400BB to $200BB over 11 years) and Reputation of this once great company. The reputational damage can be objectively assessed by looking at the dramatic drop in the Barrons annual rating of the Most Admired Companies where GE dropped from a consistent ranking as #1 to their most recent ranking as #78. This fall from grace has occurred with the vast majority of Sr management and Board of Directors held in place. An amazing example of the lack of integrity and responsibility of the BOD and equally appalling lack of accountability of it's officers.