Q: What did you do prior to coming to Edward Jones?
A: Before I joined Jones I practiced engineering for 25 years. In my last six or seven years as an engineer, I had my own consulting company. I provided consulting and project management services. Q: What were you looking for that led you to Edward Jones?
A: I was looking for the freedom and the autonomy to run a business in a way I wanted to operate it within a set structure. Whoever I talked to at Edward Jones prior to joining just talked about the terrific support, both from home office as well as the support from fellow Financial Advisors. That was unique as far as investment firms go. Although you're in an office by yourself with your branch office administrator for the majority of the time, that feeling of being alone is eliminated because of the camaraderie and support that you build with fellow Financial Advisors. So that really helps me to eliminate the loneliness that one might feel working in a one Financial Advisor office. Q: What’s it like to run a business now versus before?
A: With my previous business I used to run the show totally, without resources from any large companies. At Edward Jones you have the freedom to run a business in a way in which you want to operate it, operate within the guidelines, but you have the support of a huge company, both from existing Financial Advisors as well as the company itself. Q: Are there any specific instances you can think of that stand out in your mind in terms of client relationships?
A: Just recently a very good client of mine passed away and I sent her flowers at the hospital. And I got a wonderful letter from the sister and, just last week, a very emotional phone call from her mother just thanking me for providing the level of service that I provided. She mentioned that in her last few days, she mentioned my name numerous times and talked about my visit at Christmas time. That was really touching. Q: Did you have any concerns when you came to Edward Jones in terms of compensation?
A: The main concern that I had was getting back to the compensation levels that I enjoyed before I joined Edward Jones. I worked 25 years as an engineer. I enjoyed a certain lifestyle. I had my kids go to private school with a lifestyle that I enjoyed. And when I joined Jones, I didn't want this change in career to have any impact on the lifestyle that we led and certainly not on my children's education as well. So that was certainly a concern. But this proven recipe for success with Jones has this structured program that they have and the support that they provided me with enabled me to get back to the compensation level that I enjoyed in a relatively short period of time where my family wasn't impacted. Q: Describe the training
A: It was structured, very intense, but I now appreciate the sort of training that I received from Jones because it certainly led to me building up a successful business. The training at Jones is considered an investment. It's not an expense. You're provided with continuous training. In fact, I use the term just in time training. As you go through the various stages, through different segments, Edward Jones invites you to attend workshops and training classes to take you to the next level so you can continue to build your business. Q: What traits would help someone be successful as a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones?
A: The traits that would help one succeed as a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones would be self-motivation and determination. It also takes an excellent work ethic and a desire to help solve the financial goals of the clients. Somebody asked my opinion about the difference between working with Edward Jones versus the banks. I would have no hesitation in telling them that Edward Jones is the best company to work for with the unlimited potential for learning; with the potential for earning unlimited income; for enjoying independence in running your own business under the guidelines of profitability and ethics; for the special culture that exists within Edward Jones.
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