Freestone Capital Management Client Manager Reviews

Pros

-People here are really great -There is a career track for people who want to grow and advance. Isn't just something said, I've actually seen it happen - especially for people wanting to be an advisor -Catered lunches 4 days/week -Profit sharing and special bonuses have been paid when the company and LPs do well.

Cons

- remote work is an option, but its 4 days in office/1 day remote for employees with less than 4 yrs of experience. Wish it was more like a 3 day/2 day split like it is for people with 4 or more years of experience. - expensive to park downtown

Pros

The best group of talented individuals who work together as a team to ensure our clients receive the ultimate investment and planning advice. I feel empowered as an employee to create my own inspired processes that then likely become implemented across the Firm as management values each of our opinions and suggestions. The Sr. Financial Advisers enjoy mentoring the Jr. Financial Advisers. Opportunities to advance your career in the pathway you choose (there are many of them). A management team who helps you realize your best potential and will mentor/help you get there. Other added bonuses...free lunch delivered to our kitchen everyday, casual Friday's, unmatched views of our wonderful city, a convenient Starbucks in our building (with friendly staff!), office WiFi, great health and benefits package, and a genuine understanding of the need for employee flexibility when the unexpected happen. We have fun here!!

Cons

The Columbia Tower parking garage is out of tenant parking spaces, but there are plenty of alternative methods of parking and commuting to and from the office! The elevators to the 74th floor take a total of 4 minutes and my ears pop every time, but the view is unmatched and your ears quickly adjust.

Pros

Freestone is a company where, if you are willing to work hard and have a positive attitude, you can truly make a difference in the day-to-day and long term company success. Based on my personal experience, upper management is interested in setting a path (based on your personal goals and what you have shown them) and making meaningful steps to achieving that path. I feel valued here. At Freestone, if you are a problem solver, innovative, determined and can work well in a team environment, you will find you are absolutely not a cog in the larger machine (like so many larger companies - I worked at a 1500 person firm before arriving here). The employee benefits are top of the line. The people generally enjoy being around each other and can go out together and have fun at the end of the workday. The people I have worked with embrace the "Client First" attitude and always consider that first in decision making. Fun and loose environment focused on making the company better, which inspires me on a day-to-day basis. The office is bright with natural light and has a great view. Upper management is investing in younger people to take over the company in the future.

Cons

To do what is necessary for the company to succeed, you must be willing to work - and sometimes work long hours to make this happen. If you are looking for a 35-40 hour work week, this is not the place for you - however I see this as a symptom of the industry and American work/life balance in general, not specifically Freestone. I see it as a learning experience and variety of workflow (keeping it interesting), but some people view the fact that employees "wear multiple hats" or are responsible for many tasks as a negative (see comments about being a cog above - I think it is important to do many things and learn the company from inside).

Pros

I joined Freestone a few years ago for the opportunity to be a client advisor to manage relationships with high net worth individuals and their families. My experience to date has had its own high and lows, but I can honestly say no firm has believed in and respected me more for my talents and contributions to the company. I have had the opportunity to grow my client base with support from my team and the mentorship from more senior advisors/partners. Freestone has a sense of entrepreneurship that allows you to excel if you know where you want to go. I have also been very pleased with the benefits they provide and the support they give to new parents while on maternity leave (and the months back when you’re adjusting to your new normal).

Cons

Freestone can be a hard place to work if you do not have a good idea of the direction you want to go in your career. We have employees who are very content with their current role and we have employees who look to advance to the next level by advocating for themselves to get there. I would say it would be difficult if you fall somewhere in between. The other thing (and this might be a “me issue”), but I always have a hard time finding information. For example, I never know when we have holidays off work. There’s nothing worse than planning client meetings and then realize the entire office is closed for the day…

Pros

I spent 21+ years building a client advisory practice at a national financial services firm and recently joined Freestone after 5+ years of due diligence and firm evaluation on numerous Wealth Advisory firms. 1) When the founder(Gary Furukawa) says "put the client first" and "do what is right", it is not just something for the company brochure. This mindset and mentality is constantly engrained into everyone from new staff members to the Partners of the firm. 2) Clients truly appreciate the fact that this is a privately owned firm and the owners are not led by some NY based company that is driven to grow firm profits. 3) Because Freestone does not look to grow headcount massively and drastically, you end up with a collection of really quality, and truly happy, personnel. 4) Bureaucracy is rather common in the wealth advisory world. Not so here. You will often hear the question "how do we get it done for the client?". 5) If I had it to do over again, I would have made this move 10 years ago.

Cons

1) Someone looking to have a place to sell packaged product to the client need not apply 2) If you are looking for a firm where you will be able to slide by unnoticed, and do just enough to get the job done, this is NOT your place. 3) As in any business, there are issues to overcome and "fires to put out", but everyone here needs to be ready to roll up their sleeves and pitch in to get it solved. This may not be you.