Pros
As others have said, a GREAT resume builder. It can be tough getting your foot in the door in the securities industry, and Vanguard is just low-paying enough that it doesn't attract all that many people. If you can afford the record-breaking lows in terms of industry compensation, stick out a year for your licenses and book it. Lots of folks will list this as a 'con,' but Vanguard's culture really does come off as inclusive, friendly, and caring. The company promotes this happy, feel-good kinda hugbox that pushes even the most curmudgeonly people into being supportive and affable. Benefits are top-notch, and a good deal of your co-workers are going to be kind and thoughtful. Really lovely people were working at the Scottsdale location when I worked there. This includes some of the management, too; some of the team leaders are absolute assets to the company. The operational issues with Vanguard are so glaring it is incredibly easy to convince my clients with assets in Vanguard to defect. The investment products and funds Vanguard has to offer are some of the industry's best. John Bogle is an absolute genius. McNabb's kind of a twerp.
Cons
Compensation is pitiful. Recognition of work of any caliber is hard to come by. Employees who are top performers get their name published in an e-bulletin board (and maybe even a Harkins movie pass for two!). Employees who are poor performers/just plain incompetent are kept on payroll. All employees are kept in the dark. There are managers and associates in literally every department who have absolutely no goddamn idea what they're doing, even after years of being in that department. It would be incredible if it weren't so sad.