Big upside for right entrepreneur if you can navigate politics and understand management incentives working against you - Financial Advisor Equitable Advisors Employee Review

3.0
24 Mar 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Entrepreneurial. Unlimited earnings potential, work as much or as little as you like, you're basically a small business owner. Open architecture, advisory and brokerage platform through LPL Financial (largest independent broker/dealer). Insurance products, in addition to AXA Equitable Life & Annuity can be sourced through other companies (MetLife, Genworth, Allianz, Prudential, Hartford, Genworth, WilliamPenn, Banner, etc). *See advice to management*

Cons

"Eat what you kill" culture. Zero base salary, 100% commission. You need to find your own clients/prospects generally through old calling. Unless you have an established network that can provide sustainable/consistent lead sources, but that is the exception not the norm. Highly political management is all sales guys who are given incentives to increase their override over what's necessarily right for the advisor or client. *See advice to management.

Explore other reviews about Equitable Advisors

5.0
2 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Compensation structure, product availability, brokerage system, overall tools, open structure to do best for your clients

Cons

Support staff are more hands off, not a lot of in house support staff members.

1.0
8 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good place for career changers to get financial licenses (they will license anybody)

Cons

Very bad pay model for new hires- will tell you 6% commissions on certain products but then you have to kick up 10% to your manager and the other half of what's left to whoever is working w you because they make you go out in pairs...and mostly seem want to get ahold of all your friends and family for sales you can't participate on without the 66....but you have no time to study that bc you are too busy selling for the products that don't require it to make quota, as your clock starts when you pass the 7, so pretty much they just want your people. It's very eat what you kill, and then only after it's been picked over.... which is fine if you're young with no obligations, but not great if you have a family. If you were an existing advisor and had your own book/contacts it could work. Otherwise get your licenses, learn a little, but don't be afraid to move on to other opportunities.

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