Q: Why did you join Edward Jones?
A: I was working as an auditor and I wasn't happy. Although there was a nice salary at the end of the day, it just wasn't what I wanted to do. I've always wanted to run my own business and have that unlimited earning potential that comes with it. Auditing was certainly never going to get me there. At Edward Jones it's up to me how much I earn. I also don't know of any other company that lets you open a business and not invest any of your own money. I came to Edward Jones and invested time and effort using the skills they taught me. But I didn't have to invest any of my own funds. Find me another business like that out there – I don't think there is one. Q: Did your Edward Jones training prepare you for success?
A: Yes. I didn't have any experience in this industry so the training was very important to me. They taught me everything I needed to know from beginning to end. They taught me how to make face-to-face contacts, how to deal with clients, how to conduct appointments, product knowledge – everything. And they keep training you, in essence, teaching you what it takes to get your business to the next level. Q: What did you think about Edward Jones’ face-to-face policy?
A: In the beginning, it was difficult. You work long days and meet as many people as you can face-to-face. Now, six years later, most of my clients come from referrals. I don't go out and specifically do face-to-face’s anymore. I get referrals from my clients. That's how your business evolves. But in the beginning, you have to make as many face-to-face connections as you can and go from there. Besides, why would you want to do anything different? You can't help but be successful if you follow the face-to-face strategy. Q: What was your most memorable client experience?
A: My first client experience was the most memorable. When I joined the firm I knew I was going to have to work hard. Also, I didn't think there were many people out there who knew about Edward Jones. Imagine my shock when my first client walked in off the street and immediately wrote me a check for $50,000. He explained how he had previously worked with an Edward Jones broker in Texas and that if the firm had hired me, he was confident I would do a great job for him. At that point, I knew that not only was our reputation very good, but that I had a responsibility to do everything I could to make sure it would remain so. In fact, recently, J.D. Power ranked us number one in customer satisfaction.* Q: What is being a Financial Advisor all about?
A: I would say it's about helping people's dreams come true. I help them prepare for a comfortable retirement, for their children’s education, for paying off their mortgages - and even putting aside a little extra for the vacation that’s always been on their mind. I even make sure that if they become disabled, they have the proper coverage. That's what I do for a living. That's what a Financial Advisor does. You touch people lives. You make their dreams come true and, at the same time, you make a good living doing it. * "Highest in Investor Satisfaction With Full Service Brokerage Firms" Edward Jones received the highest numerical score among full service brokerage firms in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Canadian Full Service Investor Satisfaction StudySM. Study based on 5,190 total responses measuring 14 brokerage firms and measures opinions of investors who used full-service investment institutions. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in April and May 2006. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.
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