Fisher Investments Careers Discussion Forum

Topic: Careers at Fisher Investments

Welcome to the Fisher Investments discussion forum on careers at Fisher Investments; including a discussion of the culture and work environment. Fisher Investments believes in the principle of 'meritocracy': career reward and advancement based on merit, teamwork and flexibility. This forum is dedicated to providing Fisher Investments employee insight employment at Fisher Investments, to give prospective employees a glimpse of work-life at Fisher Investments. If you are interested in careers at Fisher Investments, please visit the website Fisher Investments Careers for more information on employment opportunities.

Fisher Investments is headquartered in Woodside, CA and also has office locations in San Mateo, CA and Vancouver, WA. For more information about Fisher Investments, including contact and address information, please visit www.fisherinvestments.com/contact-us.

The following represents commentary by Fisher Investments’ staff members on the above mentioned topic. All comments are subject to the website disclaimers located here.

31 Comments

Invaluable experiences
Added by cmcgeough on 4/14/2009
Fisher Investments provides a great environment in which to broaden your knowledge in several different aspects of the financial world. Even if you are not a finance-oriented person, you can find an area which piques your interest - be it Marketing, IT, or Client Programs. The flexibility to experience these different avenues offers you many rewarding opportunities. It also allows you to develop a level of understanding and appreciation of other departments and how best to interact with them.

Learning about other Departments
Added by JMarquand on 4/9/2009
Not only does the open environment at Fisher Investments foster communication between employees and their managers, it also provides unique access between departments. There is a high degree of transparency, which allows employees to learn about what their peers do and how they contribute.

Multiple Office Locations
Added by CRF on 4/14/2009
Fisher Investments has office locations in Northern California (Woodside and San Mateo) and Washington (Vancouver). Which office an employee works out of largely depends on the employee’s role in the firm, but Fisher does offer some flexibility in allowing employees move to Vancouver. Vancouver is a great location because it’s close to Portland, Oregon and offers a lower cost of living and more affordable housing than California.

Environment
Added by ashmuth on 3/11/2009
Our firm features an open environment which is conducive to an abundance of communication with your direct managers and senior management. I think our environment assists in teamwork and increased productivity.

Open Environment
Added by CRF on 4/1/2009
Fisher Investments has an open work environment. There are no cubicles or offices separating you from your colleagues, or your bosses! It’s nice to be able to turn around and have conversation with your co-workers, and it’s easy to ask others for help when you need it. We often have brainstorming sessions in our team area—and usually just turn our chairs around to face the center. I find that the open environment fosters camaraderie and free flow of ideas.

Flexible Career Path
Added by CRF on 3/10/2009
During my employment at Fisher Investments, I’ve had the opportunity to work in various roles, from client services to marketing to editorial. In each role, I gained different experiences and skills sets. I believe few other financial firms allow their employees to explore their interests so freely and devote the resources to teach them new skills.

Diverse Roles & Skill-Sets
Added by LRD on 4/6/2009
Career-wise, Ken Fisher has created a unique opportunity for Fisher Investments employees. As ‘ashmuth’ pointed out, the firm supports and welcomes new talent while providing exposure to the diverse functions within investment management business. Fisher Investments does a good job ensuring employees don’t become a “jack of all trades, master of none”. Employees are typically given a good deal of responsibility off the bat. Those who succeed at Fisher Investments are usually rewarded with promotion and opportunity to excel at another integral job function at Fisher Investments.

Continuous Education
Added by LRD on 4/6/2009
I believe Fisher Investments employees often stand to benefit from continuous education. In addition to role specific on-the-job training, I have found employees can also gain exposure to learning on markets, economics, politics and more. Fisher Investments provides a multitude of learning materials including Ken Fisher’s books, Fisher Investments MarketMinder (located at http://www.MarketMinder.com) and Fisher Investments corporate website (located at http://www.FisherInvestments.com). Speaking from my experience, continuous education is one of the key benefits of working at Fisher Investments.

Creating Knowledge
Added by DEzzat on 3/13/2009
Fisher Investments is committed to training and creating knowledge throughout the firm. I came to Fisher Investments after college so I was not well versed in the finance world. Working and learning from other employees around the firm has taught me a tremendous amount. I think this knowledge is invaluable and can be applied to several aspects of my career.

SF Proximity
Added by ashmuth on 4/1/2009
I would have to agree with JMarquand and CRF. Being located just south of San Francisco provides great opportunity. I live in San Francisco and the daily commute tends to be rather short. Also, I enjoy the flexibility of the location—I am typically able to run all my errands over my lunch hour.

Unique Career Path
Added by JMarquand on 4/2/2009
A career at Fisher Investments is not confining. Fisher Investments believes it’s important to develop breadth and depth in employees. Employees are given the flexibility to rotate into different positions and experience new opportunities. This provides many opportunities for personal success.

Management Interaction
Added by ashmuth on 4/8/2009
I agree with CRF. Managers are very accessible and approachable. The team structure and open environment at Fisher Investments allows for easy and fluid interaction among the associates, specialists and managers. Often times, you will find yourself sitting in close proximity with your direct manager which enables you to maintain a good working relationship.

Friendly Atmosphere
Added by ashmuth on 3/25/2009
I believe the atmosphere at Fisher Investments is very conducive to professionals starting out their careers. I came to Fisher from another state and as a recent college grad. I have found a supportive and welcoming environment here.

Learning Resources
Added by ashmuth on 4/20/2009
I agree with LRD’s comment below regarding the amount of exposure we have to various learning materials. I find myself referencing Ken Fisher’s publications and www.MarketMinder.com on a regular basis—usually daily. The wide array of learning materials Fisher Investments makes available to employees has allowed me to broaden my financial horizon.

Location
Added by CRF on 3/24/2009
I really enjoy working at Fisher Investments’ office location in the mid-Peninsula. There are plenty of food options nearby for lunch, and it’s easy to do errands (post office, dry cleaning, shoe repair, grocery shopping, etc.) in the area. I commute from San Francisco (quite a few people working here do the same) and the traffic going to and from work is never too bad.

Location, Location, Location!
Added by JMarquand on 3/26/2009
I agree with CRF that the location of Fisher Investments’ offices in the San Francisco Bay Area provides a unique experience. The chance to move to San Francisco was one of the draws of the Fisher Investments position for me, and I have loved living here. There are plenty of cultural, entertainment and outdoor activities for any age (as well as a number of accessible airports!)

Learning Experience
Added by JMarquand on 3/12/2009
Fisher Investments provides employees with unique learning opportunities, regardless of what role they currently hold. This, combined with the ability to engage with seasoned professionals and skilled colleagues, has enabled me to excel at different roles. Fisher Investments has been a great place to launch my career.

Flexibility
Added by ashmuth on 3/19/2009
Comment: I agree with CRF’s and LRD’s comments below. I have also had the opportunity of working in more than one role at Fisher Investments. It’s neat to apply what I learned in my previous role to my current position. Also, the flexibility and job rotation allowed me to build experience and perspective.

Innovation
Added by DEzzat on 3/27/2009
At Fisher Investments, innovation is strongly encouraged in everyday activities no matter which department you are a part of. I especially enjoyed this when first starting at Fisher Investments being a person who appreciates the freedom of creativity. We have an open, encouraging environment and employees feel welcomed to bounce ideas off of one another or even senior management at times. I think finding a company that fosters innovation is truly rare in our industry and I’m happy to see Fisher Investments emphasize this.

Starting Out
Added by CRF on 3/18/2009
I think Fisher Investments offers a great environment for new grads. I joined Fisher Investments directly from college and I find the environment to be supportive and training/education oriented. You get thrown into real life situations and learn about the business world, but it’s not sink or swim. I learned a lot and was able to develop new skills at my own pace and according to my own interests.

Learning the parts to see the whole
Added by jd on 4/22/2009
You’re right cmcgeough, there is plenty of opportunity to learn different parts of the business here at Fisher Investments. I came in on the service side, worked in research, and am now in the content/marketing department. Seeing how each different division supports the others has given me a more complete picture of the whole firm.

Make the most of life outside work
Added by jd on 4/29/2009
There’s plenty of potential to make the most of life outside of work at Fisher Investments. The Bay Area has more than enough to keep us occupied: A world class city with world class food and entertainment, or for the active lifestyle, there’s plenty of nature to be enjoyed too, from the Sierras to the Pacific. A great place to live a full life.

Career path
Added by DEzzat on 4/3/2009
I agree with JMarquand. Fisher Investments encourages employees to move around the firm to really get a grasp of where they feel most comfortable and what they enjoy doing the most. This is a unique opportunity and it keeps a career at Fisher Investments interesting and refreshing.

Client Service
Added by DEzzat on 3/9/2009
When searching for a career, one thing I found impressive about Fisher Investments was their dedication and service to clients. Members of the Fisher team, on all levels, from associates to the Investment Policy Committee, perform their daily tasks while consistently making clients’ interests their top priority. I’m pleased to work with a group of professionals who go above and beyond what’s asked of them to ensure the highest level of quality service for our clients.

Fisher Career
Added by ashmuth on 3/6/2009

Prior to joining Fisher Investments I was not well versed in the financial world and was eager to learn more about the industry and how Fisher fit in. Through working here I have gained a vast knowledge about the industry and an invaluable understanding of our core business. I’ve had the inimitable experience of working in both our Private Client Group and our Institutional Group—both groups have provided me with an immense amount of opportunity to work closely with senior management and given me a unique perspective of both sides of our business.

Financial Services
Added by JMarquand on 3/19/2009
One of the things I find most exciting about working at Fisher Investments is the insight it has given me into the finance industry as a whole. Initially through employee training, then through my daily responsibilities, I have gained unique exposure to a career in financial services. When I was in college, I didn’t plan on going into finance, but Fisher Investments presented me with a great opportunity to learn and excel in a few different business units, and now I’m learning more every day.

Accessible Managers
Added by CRF on 4/7/2009
Managers at Fisher Investments are very accessible. Most employees work in teams, managed by a team leader. One step above the team leaders are group managers. The team leader is available for questions about daily tasks/projects, work flow, human resource-related questions, etc. The group manager is also available to help with projects and can help get you additional work resources or offer guidance as needed. Team leaders and group managers sit with the team and so it’s not uncommon for the managers and team members to have good working relationships.

Breadth and Depth
Added by LRD on 3/18/2009
I appreciate Fisher Investments’ focus on developing both breadth and depth in employees. Some choose to stay in a particular role for an extended period of time, enabling them to develop a deep skill set. For me, I prefer experiencing different roles and Fisher Investments provides me with that opportunity. I started off in sales and have since moved to a marketing communications role. In each, I’ve spent about a year and a half. Developing a degree of depth in each role has proven beneficial as I’m able to apply insights learned from past departments. As knowledge and experience grow, so does responsibility. Employees are encouraged to share ideas and “foster innovation”—a key part of the firm’s mission statement.

Bay Area locations
Added by cmcgeough on 5/1/2009
JD is totally right about the Bay Area. If you are considering moving from another state for a job at Fisher Investments, there are few places that can match the quality of life the Bay Area has to offer. From busy young professionals, to growing families, your lifestyle is sure to fit in. If you already live in the Bay Area, then you’re familiar with the prime location of the San Mateo and Woodside offices in relation to the city.

Career Training
Added by cmcgeough on 4/22/2009
I believe Fisher Investments offers an excellent training program for new employees. If you’re coming here straight from college, you won’t feel like you’re just thrown into the thick of things. It can feel overwhelming to absorb all the new information coming at you, but that’s the case with any new job. A solid foundation will be built as you work with your manager and mentor. Not to mention other co-workers who are always willing to offer you advice. In no time you’ll gain the confidence to successfully perform solo.

Challenging
Added by DEzzat on 3/20/2009
I agree with JMarquand. Every day I find myself being challenged to learn something new at Fisher Investments and that’s something I haven’t experienced at past jobs. With so many people at Fisher Investments coming from all different backgrounds, you really learn quite a bit on a daily basis.