Balentine Ranked Second Among P&I’s 2016 “Best Places to Work in Money Management”

Balentine was recognized as one of the "Best Places to Work in Money Management," ranking second among firms with fewer than 50 employees. Presented by Pensions & Investments, the global news source of money management, this fifth-annual survey and recognition program was dedicated to identifying and recognizing the best employers in the money management industry. This is the third time that Balentine has been recognized.

“Again this year, it is clear that what makes firms great employers isn't necessarily about salaries. Many firms were cited for their culture and benefits,” said P&I Editor Amy B. Resnick. “Employees at these top-ranked firms most often cited their colleagues, the firm’s culture and the benefits as the things that make it a great place to work.”

According to Pensions & Investments, Balentine employees repeatedly praised the firm’s strong culture, with its emphasis on teamwork and open communication. In an effort to continuously improve, Balentine introduced a number of initiatives this year. Chief among them was adding video conferencing capabilities to both the Atlanta and Raleigh offices so that remote employees can more effectively collaborate with teammates during meetings. Additionally, following an employee suggestion, “Balentine Chefs” was formed. Each month a volunteer brings in a unique dish to be enjoyed by the entire firm—recent offerings have included Russian vinegret and South African babotie. Balentine also encourages sharing the firm’s culture with families. The inaugural “Balentine Boos!” Halloween-themed event took place in late October. Employee’s children and grandchildren spent an afternoon decorating pumpkins and trick-or-treating around the office in their costumes.

To assist with the “Best Places to Work” selection process, Pensions & Investments partnered with Best Companies Group, an independent research firm specializing in identifying great places to work, to conduct a two-part survey process of employers and their employees. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies.

As Balentine CEO Robert Balentine often says, “We spend more time at work than we do at home with our families, so a strong culture is key to a company’s long-term success.” Balentine’s executive management team has invested heavily in infrastructure that promotes the firm’s four core values of Integrity, Excellence, Entrepreneurial Spirit, and Mutual Respect and, ultimately, enables staff to best serve clients.

For a complete list of the 2016 Pensions & Investments’ “Best Places to Work in Money Management” winners and write-ups, please visit www.pionline.com/BPTW2016.