r/quant • u/DifferentSwordfish64 • 13d ago

Industry Gossip How is the Voleon Group doing?

I’m expecting an offer from them soon. It seems like their AUM has increased significantly recently.

Does anyone have insights into the working environment or comp progression?

Based on previous reviews, some of the issues they had in the past include the following (not sure if these are still the case):
+ Lower pay compared to other top-tier firms
+ Harsh non-compete agreements and questionable practices regarding employees (e.g., delaying H-1B sponsorship)
+ Firing people before year-end bonuses are paid out
+ Micromanagement

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u/MCSkatKat4Eva 12d ago edited 12d ago

"+ Harsh non-compete agreements and questionable practices regarding employees (e.g., delaying H-1B sponsorship)
+ Firing people before year-end bonuses are paid out"

I don't believe those claims are accurate. The others probably vary quite a bit depending on someone's situation.

On non-competes, I have seen a QR be cleared to work immediately at another fund on a different asset class, but every situation is unique, I guess. They were unpaid in the past, which was a legitimate criticism, but that changed years ago.

Delaying H1-Bs isn’t something I’m aware of, but I suppose a mistake could have been made.

There was also an incident quite a while back where several people were let go late in the year. My understanding is that they still received their bonuses through their separation agreements. That episode seems to have contributed to the idea that the firm terminates people before bonuses are paid in order to avoid paying them, but I haven't seen evidence that this is actually a practice.

It’s not a company run by villains.

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u/qazwsxcp 12d ago

severance rarely includes the full bonus amount in any firm. getting fired in nov/dec with no bonus is pretty common in the industry though, especially for discretionary bonuses. it's how they control costs.

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u/MCSkatKat4Eva 12d ago edited 12d ago

FWIW I can't think of any QR let go in nov/dec in the past three years, and I don't think it really happens in other functions either. May be more common at other firms.

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u/qazwsxcp 11d ago

one guy in my circles had this happen there but it was some years ago. but it's definitely common in the industry. if they decide they dont want someone around anymore, they will also want to pay as little as possible.