Q: What drove you to make a career change?
A: I was interested in a change because we had moved six times in 10 years. My daughter at the time had been to three elementary schools, and we were back in St. Louis where my wife and I both grew up. So it was just an appropriate time to make a change. My son played on a soccer team with the son of a guy who works at Edward Jones, and he told me a great deal about the firm as we got to know each other over the years. Q: What was the hardest part of the decision to move to Edward Jones?
A: I think the hardest consideration was that I was very successful in my field and at a young age making a very significant salary. So to make that change – going from a biweekly check and a bonus to monthly commissions – was going to be a leap of faith. Q: What did you think of the training at Edward Jones?
A: I think in every job as you’re going through your training, you have certain expectations. And for me, I knew that I needed a good foundation from the training. If there’s better training in the investment industry, I don’t know where it is. Being 40 years of age and essentially going back to school, it was as if I had to train all over again. But they gave me a foundation and a regimen in the home office from day one. They would give you your books and your laptop. You’d go to work each day. You knew what your expectations were, so that established a very good foundation. And the support you’d get from the home office in terms of the phone calls, the questions and other things kept me really at a comfort level throughout. Q: What drew you to Edward Jones initially?
A: The independence that Edward Jones provided for me was a compelling reason to come to work here. Having spent several years where work always came before family, I was looking for the opportunity to set my own schedule so I could be successful in both my work and family life. The opportunity to have a dinner with my family or go to a school function for my children and still be able to go back to my office because I had scheduled a 7 o’clock appointment was fantastic because it was a win-win situation for me. Q: What do you think makes a Financial Advisor a success?
A: Enthusiasm. There are going to be days that you’ll need it to get you through. I think the second thing is to be even-keeled. You’re going to have days that things don’t go the way you’d like them to, and being able to stay even will help more than you can know. And the last part is really having the will to succeed. You know, Edward Jones is set up to make your career grow and to help you achieve successes along the way. So I think having that support, along with the want and need to succeed, is very important. Q: What is different about Edward Jones from your former jobs?
A: The thing that makes a difference with Edward Jones is how you feel every day when you come into the office. In any job, there will be good and bad days. But if you have a desire to get up and come to work because you want to be your own boss and directly involved in your own success, then Edward Jones is the right place for you.
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