Pros: Extremely intelligent people. Palo Alto. Good direct managers, usually.

Cons: VPs and engineering managers' expectations tend to mismatch. Most people are engineers who don't care much about finance.

Pros: Working in the valley, you hear a lot about great core early teams that have come before: Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, etc. They are the stuff of legend out here. Having talked to and worked with incredible people from these companies, I can confidently say that top to bottom, we've got one of the most talented teams ever assembled in the history of technology startups. Many people here gave up 7-figure annual compensation to come here. In an increasingly competitive recruiting environment, how were we able to recruit a team bursting at the seams with world-class talent? It comes down to mission. Forget about the great perks, free lunches, and awesome office environment. Those who possess world-class skills want to work on things they are passionate about, and personal finance is an issue that for many of us is close to our hearts. We've all been through the market crashes. Many of us have friends and family who suffered immensely as a result of the greed and deception that has permeated the traditional financial services industry. It's not right; it has to change, and we are determined to be the torch-bearers of that revolution. A group like this does not come along often. I feel extraordinarily lucky to work alongside such brilliant colleagues every day, and for me, this is the opportunity of a lifetime.

Cons: The hours are long and the bar is high, so it is not for the faint of heart. Wealthfront is a place that rewards hard work and ambition. It truly brings out the best in you.

Pros: I look forward to coming in to work. Everyone I work with is super talented, and so far I've observed no big egos. The engineering culture is awesome as well - best practices are adhered to, the technology is cutting edge, and data is king. We're also exploding right now in terms of growth, both in terms of our product and the size of our team. It's a really exciting place to be and I can't wait to see where we'll be in a year.

Cons: For someone who is looking to be told what to do, this is definitely not the place to be. Your work is largely self-directed (for me, this was a plus). Also, it's in Palo Alto, and I happen to like living in San Francisco. They pay for my Caltrain pass, though!