Q: Describe your role within the firm.
A: I'm responsible for ensuring that Edward Jones branch offices are staffed with well qualified, service oriented individuals that can consistently represent Edward Jones values, vision and our interest in the serious long term investor. By fulfilling my responsibilities, I help to build the brand of Edward Jones by identifying, attracting and acquiring talented individuals to serve as an interface of our firm's products and services to our clients. Q: Describe how your division contributes to the firm's success.
A: The Human Resources division contributes to the firm success in that it identifies, acquires, equips and supports our competitive advantage within our industry – our branch teams. While stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other financial products can be purchased anywhere, our service and dedication to our clients cannot be matched without the unique and talented individuals we pool and organize to deliver the best in full service brokerage firms. Q: What year did you start at Edward Jones? What year did you start in your current position?
A: I joined Edward Jones in April of 1999 as an Internal Auditor. I later moved to the Branch Services Department in July of 2001 to lead a team of Service Specialists. I became responsible for the BOA Hiring Department in July of 2006. Q: What did you do prior to joining Edward Jones?
A: Prior to coming to Edward Jones I worked for the Internal Revenue Service for 8 years as an Internal Revenue Agent auditing business for tax compliance. Additionally, I served my state and country as an Engineer Officer in the Missouri Army National Guard for 10 years. Q: Describe the culture at Edward Jones and how it’s different from your previous job. What is unique?
A: We have unity in what we do because it is all based on the premise of serving the individual investor. Our client is at the center of everything we do from beginning to end. Because our client is the central rallying point of our organization, respect for the individual is a hard and fast firm value which is evident in our branch teams and our home office. For example, our firm's home office associates from the mailroom to the boardroom all have equal opportunity to be frequent quests in our firm owned luxury boxes to attend sporting events, concerts and other entertainment events throughout the year at no cost to the associate nor respect to their responsibility within the firm. Q: What does the firm being a partnership mean to you?
A: I'm intimately interested in the service, performance and well being of the firm because I'm a limited partner. Additionally, not having to justify long term strategic investments decision to the market gives our leadership significant flexibility to make the right decision without fear of the short term profitability impact. Q: Articulate the spirit of volunteerism that exists at Jones. How have you been involved and what was that experience like?
A: Associates and leaders at Edward Jones are very charitable; many of which give a great deal of their time and financial resources to the community. I've had the opportunity through Edward Jones to donate blood to the Red Cross on a regularly scheduled basis, to build homes with Habitat for Humanity and to contribute financial resources to the United Way and the Red Cross (matched by Edward Jones.) Additionally, I've been supported to serve as the board president of Urban K-Life of St. Louis for the past four years. Q: What qualities do you think a person needs to have to succeed in the home office environment?
A: A successful Edward Jones associate understands his or her strengths, is team and service oriented and flexible to change. Q: As you go through your daily activities, how do you know you’ve achieved success at Edward Jones?
A: I receive affirmation from the candidates, branches, associates and clients you serve – that is success to me. Q: There are very few offices at Edward Jones, with nearly all the firm's leaders located in cubicals. What does this structure mean to you?
A: Leaders and associates work side by side allowing ready access to associates to their leaders and leaders to their associates to know what is going on in their respective departments so they understand the work being performed. Q: In terms of ongoing training, are you able to use either internal or external continuing education to continue to grow your career at Edward Jones?
A: Edward Jones has a suite of leadership development classes, on-line tutorials as well as external seminar opportunities. Q: What has the firm's growth meant for leadership opportunities?
A: Both leadership positions that I have held with Edward Jones were created by the growth of the firm and the need for more leaders to manage the growing home office to support a growing number of Financial Advisors in the field.
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