Q: Describe the culture at Edward Jones.
A: Edward Jones has a great variety of cultures due to the large number of employees, though there is definitely a conservative atmosphere in place due to the nature of the business.
Q: Talk a little about the support you get from the home office.
A: Our home-office support is top-notch. It gives our firm the consistency from branch to branch that our clients receive throughout the country. Q: Describe a memorable experience with a client that encapsulates or typifies what it’s like to work for Edward Jones.
A: Recently we’ve been working with a client who needed some type of managed trust account. The client’s total assets were under what our Trust Company normally deals with, and most companies were expressing little interest in assisting his needs. We spoke with Edward Jones Trust Company, and they were more than willing to set up a time to meet with our client at their office to discuss our services. We also have a client who needed a medallion signature guarantee on a personally drafted letter in order to handle some account registration changes to a DRIP plan at Ameren. Our Imaging department was willing to do this, as it is a service we provide all clients, and was even able to forward the signed and stamped documents to Ameren’s Service Department directly at no cost to our client. Q: How does Edward Jones compare to the companies where you previously worked?
A: Edward Jones has the best benefits of any company I have ever worked for and probably the best support services. The retirement benefits beat any other benefits I received at any previous job. Q: Articulate the spirit of volunteerism that exists at Edward Jones. How have you been involved?
A: I regularly see communications inviting us to participate in a variety of volunteer programs. My Financial Advisor has participated in a few of these, including the Cardinals Winter Warm-up, and I annually participate in the Toys for Tots program. We also have a wonderful support system at Edward Jones that is made up entirely of volunteers, including the BOA and Financial Advisor mentoring programs. Q: Before you came to Edward Jones, what did the name mean to you? And after you came on board?
A: Because I was born and raised in St. Louis, I have always been familiar with the Edward Jones name. I always thought it was pretty neat to have a part of Wall Street in the Midwest. After working with Edward Jones, I have found it is so much more than that. The personal attention we can provide is second to none, and it’s the firm’s philosophy to work with the serious, long-term individual investor that separates us from the pack. Q: Are you happy with the way Edward Jones has taken care of you in terms of overall compensation package, including medical benefits, vacation time, retirement planning and salary?
A: I have been very satisfied with the compensation I earn at Edward Jones and the fact that my performance is reviewed annually and my salary increased based on my merit. The benefits are very good and competitively priced, and I have not seen a retirement plan as nice as it is here. Q: What qualities do you think a person needs to succeed as a BOA?
A: A person must be independently motivated and great with people to. Q: As you go through your daily activities, how do you know you’ve achieved success at Edward Jones?
A: It’s easy to see the success of your branch, as there are reports to view and goals to meet each day. My personal success is really measured by my own retirement, and I can view my progress from my workstation any day I like. I believe the real measure of my success, though, is that I don’t have to check my retirement assets every day; Edward Jones has taught me to look to the long term. Q: What is it like to work in a two-person office?
A: A two-person office has its benefits and drawbacks. The benefits are the ability to develop a strong working relationship with each other and know that your successes are your own. You get a chance to really make an impact. The drawbacks are that if you aren’t self-motivated and don’t like taking responsibility for the work, there’s no one else to blame mistakes on. Q: What is your relationship like with your Financial Advisor?
A: My relationship with my Financial Advisor is rather like a relaxed friendship. We are able to motivate and drive each other and work toward common goals, yet stay relaxed and comfortable in our work environment. Q: What is your relationship like with clients?
A: Every client is different and likes to be treated differently; therefore, I do not have the same relationship with every client; however, our clients do know me and know that they can expect top-notch service from me. A few clients are friends of mine or have become friends of mine, as well. Q: How important is it that you work close to home?
A: It has always been important that I work close to where I live so that I may enjoy more of my time when I’m off work. I have never worked for a company where I needed to travel more than 30 minutes to get to work, as long commutes seem to be a waste of my time. I believe you should never spend more hours at work (travel included) than you get to spend awake at home. Q: What role do you play in increasing awareness of your branch within the community?
A: My role in increasing our community’s awareness of our branch is really in helping identify what marketing strategies could be effective and making those suggestions to my Financial Advisor. Q: Describe the training you received when you started.
A: My initial training consisted of six months of online courses, which I worked on while at the branch. Many different subjects were covered, and all were broken down into approximately 30-minute modules, followed by a quiz or test. The other BOAs in my region were very helpful when I had questions and also had great support and reminders through the firm’s Branch Associate Training and Development department.
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