Salomon Smith Barney

My account has lost value. The financial advisor is not very helpful. Told me that she was investing in one fund, but sent me a different one. The fees are outrageous. Low balance fees every quarter. When I asked the advisor about the fees, she suggested transferring to a different company because the fees are too high. Sooo.... trying to transfer is even more headaches. They require medallion stamps, but their offices don't even have one. Of course, they want a transfer fee and a debit fee. It's been months of hassle. I think they just drag it out to get more fees. stay away from this company, it's only for big investors.

They started charging $35 a quarter because I didn't have enough invested with them. That helped me realize that I had too much invested with them. After 20 years of declining service and higher fees, I'm jumping ship.

I finally took my money out and have never been happier. I was with SB when they were called E F hutton if that gives you any indication of how long i have been investing money. I never paid fees to manage a account until 2002. There fees have risen from 40 dollars to 90 dollars in the last 2 years. There explaination to me was all the other brokerage firms are doing it. So I guess that makes it right, in there eyes. they should back to there roots, When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen.......

I WOULD NOT RATE SMITH BARNEY. This firm is not a good place to invest your money. Go to Finra and look up the Financial Advisor you have or had, you might be surprised. We recently lost 25,000.00 on a Bank tanking and that morning we called our Barney F/A to question this loss. The F/A said, "Oh I didn't read the paper and not sure what you are talking about" No communication, investing in moderate to risk rather than our choice low risk. You can bet that the F/A is getting his fees and commissions. Lesson learned, NEVER let a F/A call you about a WOW investment, then proceed to tell you that you have to do it within a certain amount of hours or it will be gone. In the down market 2008 to 2009 this particular F/A kept saying, "oh do not sell, this is a buyers market, you will not lose" Fortunately I did some research and we moved into M/M for a temporary status. Good thing we did. Never go with a F/A unless you are willing to actually sit down and interview him. Be sure a... Read more

Smith Barney is only interested in what they can make and not what they can do for their clients.They will place you in b shares(not a or c).B shares are the most expensive when you sell them.They do not follow orders when you ask them to sell mutual funds.One example is when i told my finical advisor to sell my IDEX funds and buy CD's.She instead bought me CD's and Bonds.I took a big loss on the bonds later on.When my finical advisor called me to sell something in my portfolio is was only for her gains and not my best interest.I have had several finical advisors and also did some on my own.They are the worst i have ever used.

My employer uses Smith Barney (benefitaccess.com) for stock options. The web site is often down, for hours, in broad daylight. When I called them I was told it's a routine maintenance, which happens everyday. To make things worse, the representatives end the day at 3pm Pacific time. I live in California. This makes it hard for me. Finally, even when the website is up, it can be hard to use. The trade status has a long delay to show up, sometimes after the market close. It often makes me wonder where my stocks or cash are... Overall, I'd like to get out of Smith Barney as soon as I'm done with all my stock options.

I am planning to sell my Citigroup stock based on my experiences with Smith Barney. The following is based on both my experiences and those of a friend. They misrepresented fees. Even the CPA missed the fees charged, Smith Barney so embedded them in their reports. This caused refiling of 3 years of taxes. They continually made enough on my friends account to cover their own commissions, with nothing left over for a client. I met with 2 different representatives when I was shopping for a fiduciary firm to hold my assets. I ended up writing a letter to the president of the branch in our town I was so concerned about the dealings I had with their two employees. Once I learned of the experiences of my friends account, I decided not only not to use them, but also to sell my Citigroup stock so that I am not supporting them in any way. I do not want to give them even 1 star, but apparently you have to give them at least that.

After getting the run around i decided to take matters into my own hands and joined the firm. I work with clients like me including women like me who are working full time and head of the household) who have gotten the run around and are planning for their future. My advice: before working with any Financial Advisor (and i don't care what firm they are with) my advice is to interview THEM...if they are evasive in their answers (commissions, how often they met with clients to review investments, retention rate, how long they have been at firm, would they consider moving to another firm if they had the opportunity) MOVE ON IMMEDIATELY!! My business is FEE BASED only...my advice and recommendations are not commission driven. I love my clients (who are honest and hard working people0 so I love my job. As for the other Financial Advisors they are in business because people may be dissatisfied but are complacent. The crooks stay in business as long as people are willing to tolerate... Read more

I started an account with Smith Barney because my new husband had been satisfied with the broker there. I have been totally unhappy with the performance of my account. In the three years that my account has been there, I have lost close to 10% of my $300,000 principle. When I look at the statement, everything that the broker sold me has declined in value. He sold me General Motors and Ford bonds shortly before they were downgraded to junk status. I think that his recommendations are based on his commissions, not on what is in the best interests of the clients. I grew up with a father who totally distrusted brokers, and now I understand why. In the brokerage account that I have at TD Waterhouse, where I manage my own investing, I have done very well. I buy mutual funds based on my own research, combining the recommedations of Consumer Reports and other unbiased rating agencies. I have learned my lesson and will do my own investing from now on.

Fish Blarney is a crooked employer in a crooked industry that employs only the most crooked of employees. Jerk Goofyon in the webster office is their crook of crooks. He lost my money because it was in his best interest to do so. He did it by putting my money where it would maximize his income regardless of losses to my money. He invested my money in financial instruments that rewarded him, not me, the most, such as revenue sharing ,probaby free trips, etc...He lost so much of my money that he was forced to buy me an annuity inside an IRA inorder to get a big fat comission. What a jerk! All of wall street exists to steal your money..all of it if possible.

They are a bunch of thieves. At least in their New Haven, Connecticut office. My experiences with their commissions, and they misrepresent what they are selling. Just pitiful !!!