Q: Tell us a little about your background. What did you find appealing about Edward Jones?
A: I worked for the University of Missouri prior to coming to Edward Jones. I worked in recruitment marketing and public relations. Edward Jones was appealing to me because I grew up in a small business and so was looking for that opportunity to have more of the feel of running my own business. But the opportunity with Edward Jones was one to meld that idea with the servicing side that Edward Jones provides. I was actually introduced to the firm by my Financial Advisor and some other general partners here. Q: What are the advantages of coming to Edward Jones right out of college?
A: If you are a recent college graduate and considering your next step, I think Edward Jones is a great fit. That’s because it really is a career – not just another job. I also think it’s the right time because, coming right out of school, you don’t have the financial obligations of a family or kids or the high expectations of a high-paying salary. And you never want to be 40 or 50 years old and questioning yourself, wondering why you didn’t just start this earlier. Considering it early in your career will enable you to experience a nice, long career with Edward Jones. Q: How do you like the two-person-office structure at Edward Jones?
A: I think some people wonder whether it would be better to go someplace else where you can exchange ideas or have other people to interact with. I think I’m very fortunate. I have a 40-year-plus veteran in our region. He brings a wealth of knowledge from which we all gain a lot of perspective . Also, when we need help, we have the home office. When I started out, I worked out of my home, so I was the processor and the originator, if you will, for all of our business. I had to rely heavily upon our home office to for help in getting things pushed through the system, and they never let me down. Q: What kind of lifestyle did you expect when you came to Edward Jones?
A: I think family relationships are huge. It was important to know that I was going to be able to provide a comfortable lifestyle for myself and my family so my wife could stay at home with our kids. If your goal is to have a great lifestyle and you stay focused on doing what’s right for the client and putting others first, you’re going to make a lot more than you ever thought you could. Q: What kind of opportunity did you see at Edward Jones versus other firms?
A: I would say the opportunity of controlling your income, having the ability to build a business from scratch and building relationships. When someone said, “Do you want to be a stockbroker?” my thought was, “I don’t necessarily want to be a stockbroker, I want to help people build something and create a life change.” I would say that it revolves around relationships and the sharing of ideas – the opportunity to bring ideas to clients and seeing the impact on their long-term goals.
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