Q: What did you do before coming to Edward Jones?
A: I was in bank brokerage services, and I joined Edward Jones for three years, really enjoyed Edward Jones. I was recruited by another brokerage firm that I thought would offer further opportunity for myself and my family, so I joined them – only to realize that Edward Jones really was the best place to be, and decided to return two years ago. And just absolutely happy with the decision that I’ve made. Q: What drew you to Edward Jones?
A: I have always liked the independence that you have at Edward Jones. I have a strong entrepreneurial spirit. I love the fact that your office is treated as your own business with Edward Jones, to give to your clients what they need. With the other firm, even though I had a lot of latitude and a lot of freedom, I still felt as though I was in someone else’s shop. And each time I would pass the Edward Jones offices, I would miss it; my heart would go pitter-patter. And so, opportunity presented itself for the office that I started for Edward Jones to re-open, and the regional leader contacted me and said, “You did a fabulous job for us before. Would you consider returning?” And so we talked and I said, yes, I was happy to have the opportunity, and I’m back. Q: Talk a little about the support you get from Edward Jones.
A: The support that you have from people at Edward Jones is tremendous. Each sector that you go through, someone picks you up to work with you closely, so you don’t feel you’re by yourself. The other Financial Advisors are very supportive. Whatever they can do to help you, they certainly will do. It’s a feeling of camaraderie here at Edward Jones, not competitiveness. And there’s a feeling, also, of unison, whatever it takes to make sure that the Financial Advisor has every tool that they need to be successful is given to us. And so, when you’re working with an environment that recognizes your ability, respects you, supports you, you want to do the best you possibly can – because it means that not only you’re succeeding, but your family’s thriving from it, the company’s thriving from it, and it makes a happy environment. When all around you is happy, you’re happy, and you’ll excel even further and do the best you can. Q: What kind of opportunity do women have at Edward Jones?
A: For women looking to join Edward Jones, I’d say go for it. It’s an environment that lets you be who you are. You’ll feel that you have value, that you’re important and that you have an opportunity to contribute. So don’t let the fact of your gender hold you back; if anything, we need more women in this industry. And there’s a warm embrace by Edward Jones and by both the males and females here to want you to come over and to join us. Q: Talk a little about the spirit of volunteerism at Edward Jones. How have you been involved?
A: I have volunteered to be available to speak to any people of color or any other minority, to speak to any female, to speak to any transfer broker, having had experiences in all these areas. And one of the things that Edward Jones asks as you join us is that you do give back in any capacity you can, whatever talents that you may have, whatever opportunities that you can give back, that we actually do that. That’s the foundation of how Edward Jones has been built, and that’s what we continue to do. But absolutely, inclusion is something we’re really trying to increase. Q: How does Edward Jones handle diversity and inclusion?
A: Edward Jones is very genuine about inclusion. As a matter of fact, they have taken the time to have a number of us who are people of color and other minorities flown into St. Louis to talk about this particular subject: What can Edward Jones do better to ensure that we do have other minorities and other people of color joining us? What can we do to ensure that they’re successful here at Edward Jones? And that says a lot, to take the time and expense to bring us in. They want to know, and they want to improve. This is an industry that has not had that, and an industry that has really been primarily a male-dominated industry. So for Edward Jones to take that step for women and for people of color and other minorities, I salute them greatly. Q: So you see diversity as a strength at Edward Jones?
A: I believe that Edward Jones sees the strength of diversity and inclusion for everyone because the more we learn from each other, the more that we realize that even though we may be different, we’re really the same. It’s just that we take a different path to get to where we want to go. The fact that you learn by having other people of other nationalities, of other races together, only thrives and increases the value of who we are and where we’re going, what we’re going to be. Q: What value do you place on your BOA?
A: For Edward Jones to invest to give us our own personal assistant says a lot about the firm, because they want us to succeed. One of the things they teach you in training is that your purpose is to build relationships to make the sales and to bring the business in. Our purpose is not to get bogged down in paperwork, and unfortunately, many times in many of the other areas of brokerage out there, you’ll spend so much time doing paperwork that you really can’t do what you’re there to do. And Edward Jones recognized that a long time ago, and that’s why we have the single office, and it’s wonderful. My clients know when they come in that I take care of their investments and the sales aspect of their portfolio, and my BOA takes care of all the operations. Because we are a two-person team, you have to treat that assistant as your partner. And when you have that person as your partner, you both have stakes, because you want it to succeed. And when you succeed, you both thrive; you’re successful. Q: What are the benefits of living and working in the same community?
A: One of the benefits of having your office with Edward Jones is that you can have your office in your own hometown. I know in my prior office, where I worked at the other firm, most of the people were commuting anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half to get to the office. And there’s some wonderful benefit to know that when you get up in the morning, you’re within about 10 minutes of your office. Not only that, but you’re in your own hometown, where you know the people, and they know you. You become Mr. Edward Jones in your hometown, and usually you’ll find in some of the smaller towns that there’s no competition, and so you become the brokerage firm. So think about that for a moment, and think about the value that it will have to your business when you know that you’re going to see that same person, whether it’s in church on Sunday morning or in the grocery store or at your daughter’s recital or your son’s basketball game. Think about the impact of knowing that you’re one of them, and how quickly rapport’s built and how they really trust you. Q: Why do you get up in the morning?
A: I get up knowing that I’m working for what I believe to be the best brokerage company in America. And I’m not saying that to pacify the company or to make it seem like I’m tooting someone’s horn. That’s how I feel. When you wake up in the morning and you know you’re going to that office and it’s treated as yours, and that you set your schedule, you determine what particular business you really want to focus on and where you want to go with it, and you know that you’re making a significant impact in someone’s life. You know that, based on a conversation you had with someone yesterday that you’ve made a difference, you found a way to make something happen – you can’t put a price tag on that. Q: How do you feel about the compensation plan at Edward Jones?
A: If you’re thinking about Edward Jones and you’re concerned about the money you’re going to make, don’t be. Many times, people will bait you with big dollars upfront, and then you’re tied to that company for five to seven years. At Edward Jones, after your first six months, if you’ve done the job that you should be doing and if you’re building the same type of business that you did last year, you do receive a bonus – and it’s uncapped. You can receive up to 100% of what you did the first six months at your old place of employment. And if you do more than that, your bonus is larger than that. I’m here to tell you that they do offer that; it is true. I am a recipient of it. Q: How important is it that Edward Jones is a partnership?
A: Partnership is something that’s extremely valuable here at Edward Jones, and it’s something that we all strive for and look for to receive. With partnership, you own a piece of this company and the returns of the partnership. So when you add up all the various sources that you can earn from Edward Jones – your commissions, your diversification trip values, your profit sharing, your partnership and your trimester bonuses – it is very possible that you grow not from receiving a total of 40% of gross that you’re making, but the opportunity to earn up to almost 70% of what you’ve earned each year, as your business grows.
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