November 25, 2024
Jason Diamond Quoted
By Nathan Place
What makes a firm a great place to work? For people who work in money management, this can depend on a wide range of factors, from company leadership to employee benefits — or even the office decor.
Jason Diamond, vice president of the recruitment firm Diamond Consultants, connects financial professionals to their ideal workplaces. Some years ago, he brought a new prospect to the office of his potential new employer, which at the time was a major investment firm. Just one detail ruined the visit.
“When this gentleman went to the firm, he liked the capabilities,” Diamond recalled. “But I kid you not — he hated the color of the carpet. He said, ‘The color of the carpet makes me very uncomfortable. I can’t bring clients here. It looks like a cheap Marriott.'”
Most people who work in money management, of course, are not quite so fussy. More commonly, Diamond said, they focus on the two biggest criteria: culture and economics — and not just for the money managers themselves.
“There are three prongs to what’s the best place to work,” he said. “One is, where’s the best place for you to work? And then number two is, where is your team going to feel best served? … And then thirdly, and maybe most importantly, where do your clients want to be?”
With so many factors to consider, ranking the best workplaces for money managers is no easy task — but Financial Planning accepted the challenge.
