Most dysfunctional place I’ve ever worked - Anonymous employee Hightower Advisors Employee Review

The culture here is incredible

There are a lot of changes constantly

A handful of genuinely good people who try to do the right thing and support their teammates. The work can be interesting at times, and you can learn a lot if you’re proactive.

The culture here used to be one of the best parts of the job, but over the last two years it’s pretty much disappeared. Leadership keeps pushing more in-office time, and the reasoning given in all-hands meetings feels disconnected from reality. It comes off as out of touch, and things like “bagels in the office” are honestly more insulting than motivating. The team dynamic has also changed for the worse. It doesn’t feel like people are working together anymore. A lot of folks are just trying to protect themselves and avoid blame rather than collaborate, which creates a stressful and political environment. Larry in particular is seen by many as elitist and overly intense. The expectation seems to be that people should just grind until they burn out or leave. There’s very little concern for sustainability or long-term morale, and turnover feels accepted rather than addressed. On top of that, the private equity ownership creates constant anxiety. It feels like they’re more interested in being the first to sell than in being the best company. If an exit opportunity comes up, it’s hard to believe the company wouldn’t be gutted. Layoffs feel likely at some point, especially given how often management relationships with firms like Goldman Sachs are brought up.