Comp for Client Service Associate

The bank I work at has four components of salary:

1. Base salary - this is normally very low (think ~35k) and is paid bi-weekly. This is paid by the bank.

2. Fee split - you will typically get about 1% of whatever profit the IA makes. Some IAs really value their associates and will give a higher percentage. If the IA doesn't like you, find another job because you probably won't get much. If the book is $300mm for example and the IA's average comp is 1%, the IA brings in $3mm. You would get a 1% cut of that $3mm so 30k. This is paid quarterly. If the book is $1-2b, you will probably get less than 1% since that's a fairly significant book.

3. IA bonus - The IA gets a bonus depending on performance and if he likes you he'll give you a cut. This can be fairly small (few thousand) depending on the IA.

4. Branch bonus - Think of this as a typical year-end bonus. Nothing too crazy, could be similar to the IA bonus.

Of course, I can't speak on other branches because they might have a different structure. Nonetheless, at the end of the day the IA is running his own business and decides what to pay you. This is a field where chemistry is VERY important so if you do not get along with your IA you will not be paid well. On the other end, if your IA loves you, you can walk away with a very good sum of money. I know an associate who is taking home close to 200k because the IA cannot afford to lose him/her.

Glassdoor gives you a small value because people typically don't share their commission. Same way that if you were to look up "investment advisor" you'll probably see salaries barely scraping 6 figures. Most seasoned advisors I know take home no less than 500k.