The freedom to build your practice your way, backed by our support. New digital tools to help you grow — and strengthen — client relationships. A purpose-driven culture built on client-first values. Training and opportunities to take on leadership roles. The ability to make a positive impact on your clients and community, with the flexibility to stay true to your values and pursue your own life goals. These are just some of the ways we can help you take your practice to the next level.

Financial Advisors Should Engage in Wealth Transfer Conversations

Experienced Financial Advisor

Financial Advisors Should Engage in Wealth Transfer Conversations

Latin senior man serving dinner to his family

Why Financial Advisors Should Prompt Families to Engage in Crucial Conversations Around Wealth Transfer

The next two decades will be a defining period in the wealth management industry, with an estimated $84.4 trillion in assets being passed down by 2045¹ . With this unprecedented transfer of wealth, we will see older generations, like Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation, navigating discussions around plans for inheritance and the transfer of funds. As an industry, we have a responsibility to support our clients through this transition, connect with the next generation of clients and serve families in a way that is unique to their needs.

Younger generations, like Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X, are expected to inherit immense wealth and will need support in managing their assets so they are set up for success in their lifetimes and beyond. Financial advisors should see this as an opportunity to build relationships with this next generation of clients by supporting them through this massive transfer of wealth. At Edward Jones, we are setting up our financial advisors with the tools and support to better serve their clients and to help them grow their financial knowledge – so they have the opportunity to achieve what is most important to them.

Bringing Conversations Around Wealth Transfer to the (Dinner) Table

If your clients aren’t already having these conversations with their families, it’s time to prompt them to do so. The good news is our recent research found that a majority of financial advisors surveyed across the industry (89%) report that their clients have a wealth transfer plan in place and nearly two-thirds of financial advisors (65%) say clients are bringing their children or parents to meetings to discuss their wealth transfer plans. It’s promising to see clients engaging their families in these conversations, as earlier involvement creates a sense of trust and intentionality before the transfer takes place and helps set up younger generations for future success.

It’s also key to maintain an ongoing exchange with your clients and their families throughout this process to help ensure responsive action to changes in family dynamics, finances and more. Over three quarters (77%) of financial advisors say they discuss clients’ wealth transfer plans at least quarterly to stay on top of their long-term priorities. In times of transition, our role as a trusted guide to our clients is even more important. We understand that it’s nearly impossible to separate emotions from money, which further underscores why we enable our financial advisors to deliver comprehensive solutions and advice by providing personalized experiences, guidance and tools designed to help more people achieve financially what is most important to them.

Digging Deeper on Values and Goals

We know these conversations are also always changing and financial advisors acknowledge that their conversations with clients around inheritance have shifted in the past five years. For instance, 36% of financial advisors report their client conversations focus more on establishing and growing wealth to use during their lifetime rather than passing on or giving away their wealth. This is why building a deeply personal relationship with your client can help make sure you’re building a comprehensive financial strategy that considers their life, values, goals, aspirations and risk.

Clients and investors today are not just expecting “best in class,” they are looking for what’s “best in life.” That’s why at Edward Jones, our financial advisors are focused on a holistic approach – serving clients with trusted guidance that future generations should benefit from for years to come.

“By digging deeper into their values and goals, financial advisors can set clients up for success as they broach complex conversations with family around wealth transfer and inheritance.”

David Chubak, principal, Head of the U.S. Business Unit, Edward Jones

Interested in the Edward Jones Financial Advisor Opportunity?
If you’re already licensed as a financial advisor, learn how we’re built to take your practice to the next level.

Cerulli Associates: ¹ Cerulli Anticipates $84 Trillion in Wealth Transfers Through 2045

Edward Jones does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

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Our Transformational Journey: New Tools, Products and Services

Experienced Financial Advisor

Our Transformational Journey: New Tools, Products and Services

As we continue our transformational journey to provide deep personal relationships and more comprehensive planning and advice to clients, Edward Jones has enhanced its tools, product and service offerings along with greater flexibility, autonomy and choice in how its financial advisors work with clients.

“The investments we’re making today will allow our financial advisors to spend more time with their clients and families and provide the more comprehensive advice they are seeking.”

David Chubak, Head of the U.S. Business Unit

Technology

One of the things we pay particular attention to is the importance of technology in growing our impact and our business.
The latest version of MoneyGuideElite℠ is available to all U.S. branch teams, enabling deeper discovery conversations with clients and more comprehensive goals-based advice. And by the end of 2024, more than 19,000 client support teams will be on Salesforce. This platform offers a high-tech relationship management solution that pulls client data from multiple sources, making it easy for branch teams to get a full view of their clients. Additionally, LinkedIn Sales Navigator is available to all financial advisors.

We believe the combination of these industry leading tools and the depth of knowledge of our financial
advisors are critical to delivering personalized, comprehensive advice and a more holistic planning experience.

Product Offerings and Financial Planning
We are rolling out enhancements to our Investment Advisory Platform such as an optional tax loss harvesting service that monitors eligible investments in certain taxable accounts for opportunities to realize losses while maintaining alignment with the client’s objectives.

Additional enhancements include:

A Portfolio Assistant tool helps financial advisors build and manage customized portfolios that are aligned to client risk objectives, enable tax advantageous strategies for clients, and save time for financial advisors.
Financial Advisor Managed Solutions, an advisory program where clients delegate investment discretion to their financial advisor who provides ongoing investment advice and guidance.

In 2023, we started piloting a financial planning experience that we are expanding as an option for branches to engage with and deliver financial planning directly to clients later this year. This pilot delivers financial planning to clients through our headquarters and focuses on testing and refining the fiduciary financial planning experience that branches will be able to deliver directly to clients in the future.

“In addition to new tools, products and services, we are also investing in developing, retaining and growing our branch teams by offering new practice models and more flexibility, autonomy and choice in how they run their practices,” said David Chubak, Head of the U.S. Business Unit.

New Practice Models
Financial advisors transitioning to Edward Jones have choices. The new practice models, including multi-FA offices, financial advisor teams sharing revenue and new client support team roles such as Associate Financial Advisor and Registered Branch Associate. The new practice models and new roles offer additional options for how clients work with their financial advisor and how branch teams work together, in addition to building capacity for branch teams and deeper experience to serve more clients more completely.

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A turnkey succession plan. For your future. And your clients.

March 1, 2024/in Experienced Financial Advisor Optional /by tina.takerngpol

Experienced Financial Advisor

At Edward Jones, it’s a win-win for you and your clients.

Deciding to retire can be a formidable undertaking. In addition to your own future well-being, there is a great concern for what will happen to your clients. You’ve spent years growing a financial advising practice, and with it, you’ve established many close, long-standing client relationships. How can you ensure that your clients will be served appropriately through a seamless transition and that you are amply rewarded for this legacy? When and where do you begin building a succession plan that achieves these goals?

Edward Jones recognizes the importance of every financial advisor having a succession plan, so we’ve created a thoughtful, but thorough process to help our FAs plan for the next chapter in their lives. The firm treats succession planning as a step in a career-long practice management program. Just as we are there to support our financial advisors with coaching and peer support when building a practice, we are also there to provide the resources and guidance necessary to build a successful retirement transition plan.

Edward Jones offers their financial advisors at all levels of production a thoughtful, turnkey process. The plan ensures a seamless transition for clients and provides fair and competitive compensation for the retiring advisor.

“The retirement transition plan at Edward Jones was a big factor in my decision to move from another firm. I knew my clients would be well taken care of, largely because they would continue to work with my BOA [Branch Office Administrator] and their new financial advisor would remain in our local area.”

—Bob Miller, CFP®, Independence KS, transitioned to Edward Jones in June 2022

Finishing your financial advising practice at Edward Jones provides you with peace of mind that you’ve served your clients well and that your dedicated level of care will continue in the future and that you were generously recognized for the contribution of your legacy.

To learn more, visit our compensation program for experienced advisors.

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2X T12, No Handcuffs. Simple. Competitive. Transparent.

November 8, 2023/in Experienced Financial Advisor Optional /by tina.takerngpol

Experienced Financial Advisor

2X T12, No Handcuffs.
Simple.
Competitive.
Transparent.

An excited business man with a handcuff graphic overlay.

For an experienced advisor looking to move their practice, a financial incentive to protect income during this period of reestablishment is an important part of making the decision to move to a new firm. Most firms offer an upfront bonus to accommodate this transition, but beware of the details. These offers often come in the form of forgivable loans with tenure requirements and payback stipulations, locking you into a long-term commitment and/or payback constraints or quotas to attain.

Transition compensation at Edward Jones is structured differently. It’s customized to the individual advisor reflecting their past performance and their trajectory to build on this success.

Our base transition compensation offer is at least two times an advisor’s trailing 12 months of production with no handcuffs.

The transition package, which is in addition to our industry-leading standard compensation, is offered as new asset compensation, salary and commissions paid in the first two years to experienced advisors who typically:

Exhibit a progressive track record with at least three years in a client-facing practice.
Manage at least $30 million in Assets Under Care.
Produce at least $250,000 annually in gross production.

The best part is what you earn is yours to keep. There are no forgivable loans, tenure requirements or production quotas tied to this compensation.

It’s that simple and straightforward – join Edward Jones, get rewarded for your experience with transition compensation that doesn’t bind you with extenuating requirements.

To learn more, visit our compensation program for experienced advisors. While there, be sure to check out our compensation calculator, which provides an estimate for your compensation based on your individual input.

In the News

Longevity and Lifestyle Require Resilience and Coaching Throughout Retirement

By Ken Cella

For many clients, outliving their money is their greatest worry heading into retirement. Unfortunately, that concern is not unfounded. Today’s retirees are experiencing greater longevity than ever. Can most of them comfortably live 30 years or more in retirement? Research from Edward Jones’ latest study with Age Wave says probably not unless they are willing to make adjustments along the way. In fact, approximately six in ten Americans say they can afford a comfortable retirement lasting more than ten years while only 30% say they can afford a retirement lasting more than 20 years.

Retirees and pre-retirees are not the only ones concerned about their well-being in their later years. Two-thirds of Millennials are concerned their parents or in-laws may not have enough money to live out their retirement.

Planning for The New Retirement

In the past, retirement was viewed as a time for rest and relaxation, but today’s retirees view this time of life as a new chapter full of opportunities and adventures. To help clients fulfill their dreams and live comfortably throughout this new, often longer retirement, financial advisors need to do much more than help them plan for financial well-being. They need to help their clients build a comprehensive, customized plan that addresses all four pillars of the new retirement – health, family, purpose and finances. Once that comprehensive plan is in place, clients need their financial advisor to serve as a guide, to walk with them through retirement offering counsel on needed adjustments and course corrections along the way.

Like all chapters in life, retirees are likely to experience major challenges that can derail their retirement plans- like a cannonball; or relatively minor bumps in the road that cause setbacks- more like a curveball. According to our research, the most common cannonballs and curveballs retirees experience impact one or more of the four pillars including having a family member or close friend pass away, personal health issues, coping with a spouse or partner’s health issues or significant financial setbacks. There are also unexpected pre-retirement events such as a debilitating illness or forced early retirement that can impact plans for the future.

The good news is that retirees and pre-retirees recognize that thriving in the new retirement requires preparation, adaptability, and resilience. Most say they are confident in their ability to handle the unexpected curveballs and cannonballs that can occur, especially if they have a trusted advisor working with them.

Health Course Corrections

When it comes to physical and mental health, nearly all retirees say it’s even more important than wealth when it comes to thriving in retirement. With continually rising healthcare costs, staying healthy as long as possible in retirement impacts both quality of life and financial well-being. Although nearly 95% of Americans over age 60 have at least one chronic condition , making changes to their lifestyle can have a tremendous impact on their quality of life. Here is an example:

A 64-year-old man was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and has a family history of heart disease. To better manage his health, he invests in a continuous blood glucose monitor to monitor his blood sugar. He commits to lowering his BMI, cholesterol, and blood pressure by starting a workout routine that includes going to the gym three times a week and walking, hiking, or biking on other days. He also adjusts his diet by increasing fiber and lean protein while reducing sugar, saturated fat, and processed foods. Finally, he schedules annual endocrinology, foot, and eye exams.

As a result of his health course corrections, he loses 30 pounds, reduces his cholesterol by 27 points, begins sleeping better, and feels better physically and mentally. He maintains a healthier blood sugar level, reducing his risk of heart disease and potential problems with his eyes, kidneys, feet, and nerves.

The financial benefits he experiences include an estimated 23% lower annual out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and a reduced likelihood or length of stay in long-term care. He also increases the likelihood that he will live three to ten years longer, giving him more time to enjoy the things he loves – and the need to fund more years of retirement.*

Family Course Corrections

Close family relationships and a network of good friends help ward off social isolation, a contributor to mental decline and a challenge for almost 25% of Americans 65 and older . According to our study, more than half of retirees have increased quality time spent with family, with grandparents reporting that spending quality time with grandchildren significantly improved their lives.

Another course correction is setting boundaries with family members about how much time and money retirees can afford to spend on them. This is a challenge for six in ten pre-retirees and half of retirees. However, the benefits of setting and maintaining financial boundaries with family members are huge.

For example, in talking with their financial advisor, a couple discovers their generosity with family members is putting their financial security at risk. They decide to work with their financial advisor to create a plan to phase out financial support for their two adult children. Then they have individual conversations with each child to empower them to be more financially independent. As a result, they can increase their financial security by $128,000 over the next seven years by investing $15,000 each year that would have otherwise been spent on supporting their adult children, foster their children’s financial independence and establish clarity around legacy and end-of-life preferences.*

Purpose Course Corrections

Having a sense of purpose in retirement can tick off boxes in multiple retirement pillars. Retirees who have a purpose are happier, healthier, more active, and more socially engaged . It shouldn’t be surprising that these retirees also live longer.

Retirees can find purpose in many ways including trying new things, volunteering, or becoming more active in their faith community or even adopting a pet. Working in retirement is another way retirees are rediscovering a sense of purpose.

A little over 25% said they have already worked in retirement, according to the research. Another 45% would consider working to improve their financial security while 35% would work just to stay physically active, socially engaged and to feel a sense of accomplishment. Perhaps even more encouraging, two-thirds of pre-retirees would prefer to phase into retirement.

Phasing into or working in retirement can be a trade-off that delivers a huge benefit to financial security. Retirees can earn more income, accumulate more retirement savings, and delay or reduce tapping into their retirement savings and Social Security benefits. Here is an example of the level of impact it can have on your clients.

A couple enjoys the sense of purpose their work gives them and decides to transition into retirement over the next five years. The wife reduces her schedule to 30 hours a week and maintains health and retirement benefits. Her husband begins consulting and makes $70,000 a year. They contribute $15,000 a year into retirement and receive a $3,700 match from the wife’s employer. In addition to staying mentally, physically, and socially engaged, the financial windfall for phasing into retirement is $372,000.*

The SECURE Act 2.0 can be another incentive for clients to phase into retirement. However, our research shows that less than a quarter of those surveyed were aware of the new legislation suggesting a clear opportunity to educate clients on how it might impact their retirement plans.

Financial Course Corrections

Of course, two of the most impactful financial course corrections retirees and pre-retirees can make are reducing debt and increasing savings. The good news is that half of retirees report having reduced or eliminated big debt items with the goal of being more financially secure.

Saving as much as possible while working is another strategy that improves financial well-being in retirement. Unfortunately, only about four in ten retirees and pre-retirees said they saved as much income as possible when they were working. Even more troubling is that nearly 25% of those with access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan don’t participate , and of those that do participate, only 12% max out their contributions . Only 16% of those over 50 take advantage of catch-up contributions.

Having a trusted advisor to avoid missing these retirement savings opportunities and to navigate life’s curveballs and cannonballs can have a huge impact on financial security in retirement. For example, a recently divorced 50-year-old woman meets with a financial advisor to develop a strategy to improve her retirement savings. In executing her strategy, she finds a higher-paying job earning an additional $10,000 a year and a better retirement savings match with her employer contributing an additional $4,200 per year. She finds a housemate to share housing costs and actively budgets to reduce monthly spending resulting in a savings of $17,000 per year. She is able to contribute $27,000 more per year into her 401(k) so by age 65, her retirement balance has gone from $237,000 to $992,000.*

Financial Advisors Give Investors Confidence to Manage Changes

According to the latest report, more than a quarter of retirees and pre-retirees work with financial advisors and they are more likely to feel confident about handling unexpected financial changes than those who don’t work with a financial advisor.

Perhaps the most encouraging news in the report is that retirees and pre-retirees understand the value of comprehensive financial planning and advice. In fact, most of those who work with a financial advisor, or are open to doing so, want them to provide holistic retirement strategies.

Today’s retirees are approaching retirement with optimism and enthusiasm, and many are eager to learn about all the options available to them and how much control they have over improving their lives. Remaining flexible and having a trusted financial advisor to walk with them through life’s curveballs and cannonballs before and during retirement provides confidence for clients and can make all the difference between surviving and thriving in retirement.

*For assumptions and sources on course correction examples, find the full report, Resilient Choices: Trade-Offs, Adjustments, and Course Corrections to Thrive in Retirement at edwardjones.com/newretirement.

As published in Advisor Magazine, July 2023.

Women holding portfolio with Fortune 2024 Best Workplace for Women

Awards & Accolades, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Edward Jones: Where Main Street and Amazon Meet

April 13, 2023/in Experienced Financial Advisor, In the News Optional /by Symphony Talent

In the News

Edward Jones:
Where Main Street and Amazon Meet

by Jack Sharry, FA Magazine

Edward Jones knows Main Street America like no one else. Advisors are active in and leaders of community organizations, from the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary to girls softball. They know their customers. And they continually find ways to serve them better—only now in the digital age.

Any competitors who consider Edward Jones “sleepy” or “boring” do so at their peril. This is why I included them among four leaders—along with Morgan Stanley, Empower and Franklin Templeton—with the potential to become “the Amazon of financial services.”

Leaders Set The Course And Get It Done

I’ve spent time with executives at these firms to get underneath their strategies. Each is responding in its way to a generational shift in what clients want and how advisors will work:

Advice will be digital and human—much more than the sum of those parts.
Technology will dynamically coordinate clients’ goals, investments, risk tolerance, preferences, timelines and tax brackets for better financial outcomes.
Personalized financial advice will be available to all, regardless of age, experience and wealth.
In Jones’s case, they are adapting and innovating by:
Investing $1 billion in technology last year, with much more to come.
Conducting groundbreaking research with Age Wave/Harris Poll redefining retirement.
Growing executive and staff talent, including 1,500 to 1,700 new advisors.
Making significant changes to branch operations, including teaming options for advisors and their support personnel.
Adding lending to its services.
Reshaping the legendary Jones culture for the future of advice.

Many call me crazy when I say Edward Jones is a transformational leader. They wonder if this 101-year-old firm measures up. But see for yourself and listen to my WealthTech on Deck Podcast with Ken Cella, Principal, Head of External Affairs, and Age Wave founder and CEO Ken Dychtwald.

“We’re building out a renewed focus fueled by our purpose,” Cella said.

New Ideas Are Not New At Edward Jones

Founded in 1922 by Edward D. Jones Sr., the company was a traditional broker-dealer based in St. Louis.

Ted Jones, the founder’s son, broke new ground by selling securities door to door. John Bachmann became managing partner in 1980 and led the firm’s dramatic growth, expanding beyond small cities and towns to large metropolitan areas. Jones tripled in size in five years.

With nearly 19,000 advisors and branches in 68% of U.S. counties today, Edward Jones is part of the fabric of the communities they serve. Cella said today’s changes are as consequential as those launched by Ted Jones and Bachmann. I believe what’s being built now will have an exponential impact.

“We’re doing this with an outsized investment in people and an outsized investment in technology,” Cella said. Investing in people includes “providing the right support for women and people of color to join our firm.”

Retirement Redefined

The research Dychtwald and The Harris Poll conducted is in plain sight on Jones’ website. The study identified four pillars of retirement—family, health, purpose, and finances—and five forces shaping it:

Greater longevity
More boomers and Gen Xers
Long-term care woes
Personal responsibility for retirement income
The Covid-19 pandemic

This research informs Jones’s strategy around training, operations, and technology. Advisors are trained in client conversations that explore what matters most and address worries about outliving savings, healthcare costs and family and legacy issues.

“We found it has ignited a passion that already existed among our advisors,” Cella said, adding many were thrilled to expand conversations beyond fluctuations in the markets.

Technology Enables Advisors

Their tech transformation is expanding advisor capacity to attract and serve more clients and produce better outcomes as they embrace keener market segmentation and improve practice management.

Because even with the firm’s sprawling geographic footprint, it serves only a fraction of the clients who could benefit from financial advice, Cella said.

Jones is working with Envestnet|MoneyGuide to empower advisors to create comprehensive views of clients’ portfolios and optimize their financial plans. Capabilities to be added will enable advisors to improve outcomes across a client portfolio with the following:

Appropriate product mix
Risk management strategies
Generating tax alpha in both accumulation and retirement income
Social Security optimization

“Our transformation is not robotic. It is not about clients interacting with machines,” Cella said. “Our approach is human to human with strong technology in the background that supports that, but in an experiential-driven way.”

Heard From the Field

Jones advisors have told Dychtwald their clients notice and like the change in their discussions resulting from the insight the research provides and training they’ve received.

“I’ve had other financial advisors in my life. No one asked me questions” about family needs, purpose in retirement and worries about the future, Dychtwald said.

“They just asked me about market risk and my age relative to retirement. Widening the discussion to more holistic concerns has yielded a great reaction from clients.”

This article was published on Feb. 2, 2023 in FA Magazine.

Awards & Accolades, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Edward Jones Named One of the Best Workplaces for Women

Awards & Accolades, Experienced Financial Advisor

Proud to be at the top of the lists for 'Best Advisor Pay' ranking

Awards & Accolades, The Financial Advisor Opportunity

Edward Jones Named a Training Apex Award Winner

Awards & Accolades, In the News

Edward Jones Named One of the World’s Most Admired Companies

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Edward Jones Named One of the Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance

September 21, 2022/in Awards & Accolades, Experienced Financial Advisor Optional /by Symphony Talent

Awards & Accolades

Edward Jones Ranks No 7 on the Best Workplaces on the Fortune® Financial Services & Insurance™ List

Edward Jones was named among the 2024 Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance by Fortune magazine and Great Place to Work®. The firm ranked No. 7 in the large company category, up nine spots from 2023.

The Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance award is based on an analysis of survey responses from 1.3 million employees across the U.S. In that survey, 89% of Edward Jones associates said the firm is a great place to work — 32 percentage points higher than the average U.S. company.

“We care deeply about our associates and are focused on enabling development opportunities, promoting career pathways for growth and providing meaningful benefits and programs that align to our culture, values and our firm’s purpose to partner for positive impact to improve the lives of our clients, colleagues and communities,” said Suzan McDaniel, Chief Human Resources Officer at Edward Jones.

Survey questions probe areas such as leadership, well-being, personal development, compensation, recognition, place of belonging and meaningful work.

“We’re extremely proud of this recognition and the work we’ve done to create a culture and work environment where our associates can thrive.”

-Suzan McDaniel, Chief Human Resources Officer

The firm’s more than 19,500 financial advisors deliver planning, advice, products and services to more than 8 million clients with the support of tens of thousands of client support team members and home office professionals. With local offices in 68% of U.S. counties, Edward Jones financial advisors are approaching conversations holistically to help clients achieve what’s most important to them financially.

With 54,000 colleagues in the U.S. and Canada, fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued, respected, seen and heard in a culture of caring is foundational to the associate experience. The spirit of partnership also guides our community involvement opportunities, such as the Walk to End Alzheimer’s® — a firmwide effort that has helped raise $2,019,974 in the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease.

2024 Fortune Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance®, published September 2024, research by Great Places to Work®, data as of August 2023. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating. From Fortune, ©2024 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Awards & Accolades, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Edward Jones Named One of the Best Workplaces for Women

Awards & Accolades, Experienced Financial Advisor

Proud to be at the top of the lists for 'Best Advisor Pay' ranking

Awards & Accolades, The Financial Advisor Opportunity

Edward Jones Named a Training Apex Award Winner

Awards & Accolades, In the News

Edward Jones Named One of the World’s Most Admired Companies

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Serving Clients More Completely Starts with Flexibility, Autonomy and Choice for Branch Teams

July 11, 2022/in Experienced Financial Advisor Optional /by Symphony Talent

Experienced Financial Advisor

Serving Clients More Completely Starts with Flexibility, Autonomy and Choice for Branch Teams

by Ken Cella

Clients are changing in unprecedented ways. What they need, what they value, and what it takes to help them is all very different than it was just a handful of years ago.

Financial advisors are changing, too. They are deepening the ways they serve their clients, offering enhanced products and services, technology tools, and advice and guidance that can help turn clients’ life plans into financial plans.

But delivering comprehensive wealth management is more than a set of capabilities. Our research shows that most people want their financial advisor to act as a “financial guide” who helps them achieve their goals, as opposed to an “investment advisor” who strictly makes recommendations about investments. To do that requires a human-centered approach where the comprehensive advice being delivered includes all financial and wealth management needs based on an intimate understanding of the client’s life, their values, needs and goals.

For the client experience to be exceptional, the branch experience also needs to be exceptional.
Some of the things we learned from the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Study that are hallmarks of an ideal branch experience are:

Professional development and leadership – This includes an opportunity to learn both hard and soft skills from peers as well as veterans in the industry in a supportive culture. It also includes leadership opportunities for financial advisors beyond the branch to support their clients, colleagues and communities in living out their personal purpose.
Compensation – Should be competitive, transparent, and driven by the financial advisor’s success. Where how much financial advisors earn is determined by them – their business plan, their drive and how deeply they serve their clients.
Practice Optimization – In their 2022 study, J.D. Power noted the strong correlation between financial advisor satisfaction and effective operational support. Firms that invest wisely in practice management often create advocates among their financial advisors. An optimized set of services, coordinated support of people, and smart processes can help financial advisors grow their practices and serve clients more comprehensively.
Flexibility and Choice – Financial advisors want options that allow them to run their branch offices as they prefer. This includes multiple teaming options to meet the diverse needs of financial advisors and new roles such as a registered branch associate that can add capacity and lead to more time spent serving clients and investors.

We were pleased to be ranked no. 1 for our 13th year on J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Study. We’ve learned a lot over the years, and we will never stop looking for new ways to serve our branch teams. By offering flexibility, choice and autonomy, firms can create long-term value for their financial advisors and their clients leading to an exceptional experience for all.

This article originally appeared on Financial Advisor Magazine.

2022 Highest in employee segment of JD Power U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Study, published JD Power July 2022, data as of May 2022. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating..

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Edward Jones Financial Advisors Rate Firm Highest in Overall Employee Advisor Satisfaction, According to J.D. Power

July 7, 2022/in Experienced Financial Advisor Optional /by Symphony Talent

Awards & Accolades

Edward Jones Financial Advisors Rate Firm Highest in Overall Employee Advisor Satisfaction, According to
J.D. Power

Edward Jones has been ranked Highest in Employee Advisor Satisfaction among Financial Investment Firms, 13 Times in a Row.

Based on responses from Edward Jones financial advisors, the firm earned an overall score of 876 points out of 1,000. This compared to the average score of 745 among the eight employee-channel firms measured by the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Study^SM. Results of the survey were announced on July 6, 2022.

“Our firm is built on relationships, and we invest deeply in them,” said Ken Cella, Principal, Head of External Affairs. “Our nearly 19,000 financial advisors are human-centered in their approach and in more communities than anyone in our industry. These unique differentiators enable them to serve, guided by our purpose, values and mindsets that are the hallmarks of our first century in business. Our financial advisors know their clients best: what they need, what they value, and what it will take to help them achieve financially what is most important. We’ll continue to offer our financial advisors flexibility, choice and support to serve their clients and their communities.”

Celebrating its Centennial in 2022, Edward Jones is accelerating its journey and aspiration to deliver human-centered complete wealth management to its current and future clients. The firm is looking to advance its purpose to make a greater impact by providing personalized experiences, guidance and tools designed to help more people achieve financially what is most important to them.

We’ll continue to offer our financial advisors flexibility, choice and support to serve their clients and their communities.

-Ken Cella, Principal, Head of External Affairs

Between January and May 2022, the J.D. Power survey asked financial advisors to rate their firms in terms of leadership and culture, products and marketing, professional development, operational support, technology, and compensation. In addition to ranking No. 1 overall, Edward Jones ranked No. 1 in professional development and compensation.

Edward Jones has been the top performer among employee-channel firms in 13 J.D. Power advisor satisfaction studies, which were completed in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012-2015, 2017-2022.

For J.D. Power 2022 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards.

2022 Highest in employee segment of JD Power U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Study, published JD Power July 2022, data as of May 2022. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.

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The Importance of Supporting Local Communities with a Spirit of Caring

May 11, 2022/in Experienced Financial Advisor Optional /by Symphony Talent

Experienced Financial Advisor:

The Importance of Supporting Local Communities with a Spirit of Caring

Read the transcript or view the audio described video.

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Watch as Spirit of Caring award recipient Financial Advisor Thomas Scott discusses the importance of community – both inside and outside the firm. See how Edward Jones embodies this community mindset and the spirit of caring.

Spirit of Caring Award At Edward Jones, we’re all about making a difference. In the lives of our clients – and our people. We draw strength and inspiration from one another and celebrate our individual contributions. Together, we have an ability to impact and enable future generations. Edward Jones embodies a community mindset and the Spirit of Caring. Since 2010, the annual Ted Jones Spirit Award has gone to one financial advisor and one branch office administrator in every one of the firm’s regions who best exemplify Edward Jones values, culture and spirit of giving back.

Hometown communities are vital to the success of Edward Jones. So, when one of our financial advisors devotes their life and practice to supporting their hometown, our purpose and spirit of caring really come to life. To say Thomas is involved in his hometown is, well, an understatement.

“Well, it’s a lot! I sit on the Board of Directors for the YMCA. I’m a commissioner for the zoning and planning commission for the city.” Thomas went on: “I’ve been on the Chamber of Commerce board of directors for quite some time. I serve on the advisory board for a local bank here in Zachary. And I play the organ currently in four different churches. Oh, and I’m the radio call for the Friday night football games.”

Being an active part of his community has always been important to Thomas. From the beginning, he would show up at community events just to talk to people, building connections and relationships. It’s a mindset and a practice he’s extended across his region, serving as a mentor to many within the firm.

“People that look like me, we traditionally aren’t investing. People of color, diverse individuals, we don’t talk about stocks or investing or money, and I want to change that. It starts with education. And after education, it’s about bringing along your peers, helping people out, giving more people an opportunity to learn and having a seat at the table.”

-Thomas Scott Jr., Financial Advisor

Thomas shared what he sees as the foundation for caring at the firm: “The spirit is really Ted Jones. It’s how he looked at business, how he looked at the community. When you talk about the spirit of caring, you want to take that to every person you meet. You want every person to see you for who you are, not only what you do.”

Our purpose to partner for a positive impact is presented in the annual Purpose, Inclusion and Citizenship Report, “Partnering for Positive Impact.” The report showcases the firm’s year-end achievements and how it works together to improve the lives of its clients and colleagues, and together, better its communities and society.

Interested in the Edward Jones Financial Advisor Opportunity?

Learn more about starting a career as a financial advisor or start searching for opportunities now. If you’re already licensed as a financial advisor, learn how we’re built to take your practice to the next level.

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At Edward Jones, we are building a place where everyone feels like they belong. Our human-centered culture calls upon us all to treat every individual with dignity and respect while celebrating what makes us unique, which we show as an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Edward Jones does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy), religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship status or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, provincial, or local law in employment decisions such as hiring, compensation, benefits, transfers, promotions, leaves, training, performance expectations, development opportunities, and corrective action. Qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, or local law, including but not limited to the St. Louis “Ban the Box” law, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring and the New York City Fair Chance Act.

Edward Jones is committed to providing accessible employment and developing an inclusive culture. Should you require accommodation at any time in the application for employment or during your employment, please contact us at recruiting-accommodations@edwardjones.com.

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2X T12, No Handcuffs.
Simple.
Competitive.
Transparent.

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Where Main Street and Amazon Meet

Edward Jones Financial Advisors Rate Firm Highest in Overall Employee Advisor Satisfaction, According to
J.D. Power