Stories by Judith Crown and Trilbe Wynne
Illustration by Peter Hoey | Design and development by Patrick Roth
Companies are ranked No. 1 through No. 5 and then listed alphabetically.
50-99 employees
1
Vulcan Value Partners
Headquarters: Birmingham, Ala.
AUM: $13.5 billion as of June 30
Employees: 64
Years won: 2017-2020
Popular perks: Fully paid maternity and paternity leave, child-care reimbursement, and adoption and infertility financial assistance.
Employees say: “Quality work is valued greatly and there is always someone there to say a simple ‘great work!’”
2
Adviser Investments
Headquarters: Newton, Mass.
AUM: $5.6 billion as of June 30
Employees: 88
Years won: 2016-2020
Popular perks: Provides paid time off to allow employees to contribute to local and national organizations and also sponsors charitable events in which employees can participate.
Employees say: “Very entrepreneurial — if you see something that needs to be improved or an opportunity that arises, you are encouraged to run with it.”
3
Bailar|d
Headquarters: Foster City, Calif.
AUM: $3.8 billion as of June 30
Employees: 65
Years won: 2018-2020
Popular perks: Makes available education assistance with paid study days.
Employees say: “The open-door policy literally means we have no doors in our main office. The CEO and COO sit in cubes.”
4
MRA Associates
Headquarters: Phoenix
AUA: $3.6 billion as of June 30
Employees: 53
Years won: 2016-2020
Popular perks: The in-office MRA Associates Community Gallery showcases original artworks by local established and emerging artists with rotating exhibitions.
Employees say: “The partners promote activities and an atmosphere of having fun, play hard and work hard.”
5
Polen–Capital Management
Headquarters: Boca Raton, Fla.
AUM: $45 billion as of June 30
Employees: 91
Years won: 2016-2020
Popular perks: Offers on-site gym and wellness room with free personal training, yoga, meditation and massages.
Employees say: “You can fail without fear of unfair retribution, allowing you to experiment and try new things that may add value to firm.”
—
Aksia
Headquarters: New York City
AUA: $160 billion as of June 30
Employees: 89
Years won: 2015-2020
Popular perks: In-office mindfulness and meditation workshops lets employees release tension and reset during the workday.
Employees say: “Even though the firm has grown significantly over the past few years, it still has an entrepreneurial feel.”
—
Aviva–Investors
Headquarters: Chicago
AUM: $438.5 billion as of June 30
Employees: 76
Years won: 2020
Popular perks: Offers transit subsidies and job-related tuition assistance.
Employees say: “I am given as much autonomy to do my job as I see fit, which is very empowering. I like coming to work.”
—
Baird Asset Management
Headquarters: Milwaukee
AUM: $103 billion as of June 30
Employees: 97
Years won: 2012-2020
Popular perks: During the pandemic, doubled the donation amounts eligible to receive a 50% company match from the Baird Foundation.
Employees say: “We work hard but are encouraged to take time for ourselves and our families.”
—
Ballentine Partners
Headquarters: Waltham, Mass.
AUM: $7.5 billion as of June 30
Employees: 89
Years won: 2017, 2019-2020
Popular perks: In response to the pandemic, personal paid sick days were increased to unlimited.
Employees say: “It's the little things that show the organization cares, such as snack drawers and birthday emails. They may be small but it makes being at work feel more like family than a more traditional corporate workspace.”
—
Blue Vista Capital Management
Headquarters: Chicago
AUM: $4.5 billion as of June 30
Employees: 58
Years won: 2020
Popular perks: Told employees that they won’t be required to return to the office until a vaccine is created and proven to be effective.
Employees say: “Management isn’t satisfied with the ‘this is the way it's always been done’ mentality, but strives to grow and improve as the company grows and the economic environment changes.”
—
Canterbury–Consulting
Headquarters: Newport Beach, Calif.
AUA: $23.6 billion as of June 30
Employees: 61
Years won: 2020
Popular perks: Financial support for professional designations CFA, CAIA and CPA. Canterbury pays costs associated with the study materials and ongoing professional fees.
Employees say: “I feel truly comfortable walking into any office to have a conversation be it my teammate or the president.”
—
Corbin–Capital Partners
Headquarters: New York City
AUM: $7.2 billion as of June 30
Employees: 51
Years won: 2020
Popular perks: During the pandemic, the firm added monthly reimbursements for subscribing to fitness and wellness apps.
Employees say: “Nice size — big enough to be expert, but small enough that there aren’t a lot of politics or bureaucracy.”
—
Element Capital Management
Headquarters: New York City
AUM: $16 billion as of June 30
Employees: 50
Years won: 2019-2020
Popular perks: Sponsors social impact initiatives for staff.
Employees say: “During the coronavirus pandemic, the company has ensured that the work environment is safe. No employees have to use public transportation to get to work.”
—
GuideStone Capital Management
Headquarters: Dallas
AUM: $14.2 billion as of June 30
Employees: 51
Years won: 2019-2020
Popular perks: The executive leadership team hosts breakfast every Wednesday to promote relationships at the firm.
Employees say: “GuideStone is a faith-based, service-minded organization that strives to excel in its business lines with integrity.”
—
Innovest–Portfolio Solutions
Headquarters: Denver
AUA: $30 billion as of June 30
Employees: 56
Years won: 2014, 2016-2020
Popular perks: Sponsors a monthly volunteer opportunity such as painting homes for the elderly or delivering meals to those living with a life-threatening illness.
Employees say: “I have people check in with me regularly just to see how I am personally doing and how my work is coming along.”
—
Kennedy–Capital Management
Headquarters: St. Louis
AUM: $3.58 billion as of June 30
Employees: 54
Years won: 2020
Popular perks: In addition to the regular 50% match on 401(k) contributions, there typically is a discretionary additional match at the end of the year.
Employees say: “Work-life balance is as good as I would have ever thought it could be.”
—
Los Angeles–Capital Management & Equity Research
Headquarters: Los Angeles
AUM: $25.6 billion as of June 30
Employees: 84
Years won: 2014-2020
Popular perks: Covers 95% of the medical premium for employees and dependents and 100% for other lines of coverage such as dental and vision.
Employees say: “Most projects/assignments are intellectually challenging, and when an employee encounters a roadblock, ample support is provided in a timely fashion.”
—
Modera Wealth Management
Headquarters: Westwood, N.J.
AUM: $2.8 billion as of June 30
Employees: 69
Years won: 2012, 2016-2020
Popular perks: Establishes buddy pairs across the company’s six offices to enhance staff interaction and community.
Employees say: “Growth and learning are constantly encouraged and reinforced.”
—
National Real Estate Advisors
Headquarters: Washington
AUM: Not available
Employees: 58
Years won: 2014, 2016-2020
Popular perks: Company-sponsored social hours celebrate staff member achievements such as promotions and graduations.
Employees say: “During COVID-19, leadership has really shined by providing flexibility to employees, zero layoffs, and direct and consistent communication.”
—
Parnassus–Investments
Headquarters: San Francisco
AUM: $30.1 billion as of June 30
Employees: 56
Years won: 2017-2020
Popular perks: Provides employees with four paid days a year to volunteer for a charitable cause and employee donations are double matched up to $10,000.
Employees say: “This organization trusts in the work that you do and gives you the space to be productive without micromanaging your day-to-day.”
—
Penserra
Headquarters: Orinda, Calif.
AUM: $3 billion as of June 30
Employees: 57
Years won: 2017-2020
Popular perks: Promotes a diverse and accepting work environment in which 34% of the staff is from underrepresented minority backgrounds, respect is highly valued and teammates are encouraged to “treat colleagues like clients.”
Employees say: “The firm is committed to diversity and inclusion from the top down. There is full transparency of the business lines and financials.”
—
Stadion Money Management
Headquarters: Watkinsville, Ga.
AUM: $2.6 billion as of June 30
Employees: 52
Years won: 2019-2020
Popular perks: Offers a business casual dress code, with jeans allowed on Fridays.
Employees say: “Small enough to feel like a family. Large enough to be stable, competitive and secure.”
—
Strategic Retirement Partners
Headquarters: Shorewood, Ill.
AUM: $11.9 billion as of June 30
Employees: 75
Years won: 2019-2020
Popular perks: Even before the pandemic, more than 75% of employees worked remotely.
Employees say: “Our remote working environment gives me a relaxed space to work and allows for a great work-life balance.”
