Q: What did you do before coming to Edward Jones?
A: Prior to joining Edward Jones, I was with a bank. I had been with this particular bank for about 15 years. Q: How did you hear about Edward Jones?
A: I had actually known about Edward Jones for many years, but I was very happy at the firm that I’d been at, and I had built a very successful business. After a merger, I realized that it was necessary for me to look outside this company that I was working for because of the business model and the direction the company was headed. So when I started to look at Edward Jones, I realized that the way Edward Jones does business is exactly the way that I’ve always done my business. Q: What appeals to you most about working at Edward Jones?
A: The most important thing to me about working at Edward Jones was they understood the needs of the client and the needs of the Financial Advisor to deliver. When I visited Edward Jones’ home office in St. Louis and got to meet with the various departments, I realized this firm gets it. They actually listened to the Financial Advisor, heard what they needed and delivered on their promises. Q: How do you feel about the compensation package at Edward Jones?
A: The compensation package at Edward Jones is very unique and different from what I was accustomed to. Where I was at there was a grid. There was a focus on a revenue goal, which always seemed to be increased. The more successful you were, the more they expected of you. So I started to feel that the objective was revenue-based, not doing what’s right for the client. At Edward Jones, I get paid the same amount for a fabulous month as I would for an OK month. Really, I am my only competition. I’m not competing against thousands of other brokers. Where I was before, maybe 50 to 100 financial advisors would be invited to a trip. I was fortunate to be invited, but the competitive nature just wasn’t comfortable for me. At Edward Jones, you’re just doing what’s right for the client. Q: What kind of support did Edward Jones provide to you?
A: The support we received when joining Edward Jones is really what sets this firm apart. It really showed me that this firm was taking my role and the leap of faith I was taking very seriously. We had two individuals in our office helping us to bring our clients over and make it a smooth transition, teaching us everything we needed to know about Edward Jones’ products and services and the transferring of accounts, and yet making it very seamless. After about a month we had built up quite a bit of our transfer assets, and I was invited back to St. Louis for further training. And it was there that I learned that the resources and support were just so limitless that, again, it just reinforced my conviction in choosing Edward Jones. Q: Talk a little about the culture at Edward Jones.
A: Its culture really matches the way I run my business. Always do what’s right for the client. Always know that you’re taking the clients’ best interest at heart, and that’s the No. 1 priority. Being legal, ethical and profitable – those things will fall into place as long as you do what’s right for the client. I measure my success not just on the amount of money I’m making, but in the true relationships and loyalty I’ve gained in coming to Edward Jones. I think a financial advisor who is considering moving to Edward Jones has to be very serious about where he or she wants to take the business. You want to move away from being transactional. You want to be focused on the relationship because all the resources are here at Edward Jones. You want to build a successful business. You can do that at Edward Jones. Edward Jones is not a steppingstone. This is where you can begin your actual career. This is the firm you’ll retire from.
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