What I Learned About Collaboration from my Edward Jones Branch Experience

At Edward Jones we talk a lot about our collaborative vs. competitive culture. It’s a difference I’ve felt daily as Head of Branch Development and U.S. Business Unit, but I’ve never felt it more deeply than in my recent branch experience.

I had the opportunity to immerse myself in a branch and fill in for one of our Chesterfield, MO financial advisors for eight weeks. Working day in and out with our financial advisors, branch office administrators, and other Client Support Team members helped me see firsthand how our firm’s hardworking branch associates collaborate to support the real-time needs of our clients.

Our shared purpose – to partner for positive impact to improve the lives of our clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society – enables all Edward Jones associates to work together to make an impact.

Collaboration within the Branch
Building strong and lasting client relationships requires time and focus, and Edward Jones financial advisors are positioned for success thanks to our Client Support Teams within the branch.

My team during my branch experience included client support teammates Linda Rupp and Becky Brums and I couldn’t have done it without their support. In my first days at the branch, we made the transition to Salesforce and that migration was truly an all-team effort.

The dedicated support of our Client Support Teammates means that Edward Jones financial advisors have the support they need to grow a practice that puts clients first.

Support from the Home Office
Edward Jones financial advisors have the freedom to build their own practice to best serve the needs of their clients, but that doesn’t mean they have to go it alone. In fact, there are thousands of associates in the Home Office to support their success.

In my experience, I not only leaned on the Home Office for support with things like technology and branch office facilities needs, but also bigger programs that are helping transform our branch offices. For example, with the support of the Home Office, now all Edward Jones financial advisors have tools to enable deeper discovery and more personalized experiences with clients, including MoneyGuide Elite and Portfolio Optimization to enhance outcomes like ongoing tax management.

I had a client come into my office to get some advice, as he was preparing to propose to his girlfriend. So, as he was considering things like engagement rings and starting a new life with her, I was able to leverage our new tools like MoneyGuide to really dig deep, listen, and build on the great relationship he already had established with Edward Jones, to think through how we could support him from a financial perspective to give him the confidence he needed for this next big step in his life. He shared how he was thinking about his big proposal . . . and Linda and I shared some of our lessons learned, and followed up from our meeting with our own (slightly less exciting) portfolio rebalancing proposal!

Advisor-to-Advisor Connection
During my branch experience, I was also responsible for advancing the branch’s client service and financial goals. I couldn’t have done it without the mentoring and guidance I received from other financial advisors in my region. Since Edward Jones is collaborative, not competitive, I could reach out for support throughout my branch experience. I had two volunteer field trainers from my region roll up their sleeves alongside me to develop strategies for managing my time, thinking through capacity planning, and also on how to advance my judgment and instincts for portfolio planning and more complex subjects like retirement, estate considerations and so much more.

In August, we had a few high volatility days and a number of challenging but rewarding conversations with clients who had very normal anxieties and questions around what to do. I never felt alone handling these challenging days – I always felt part of a team laser-focused and fully committed to serving our clients with distinction and tremendous care.

In addition to informal mentoring and collaboration, financial advisors in a region meet several times a year for in-depth discussions on business-building ideas, best practices and practice management. Edward Jones financial advisors also have the support of the regional leader — a highly successful, well-respected veteran financial advisor committed to advancing the overall health and growth of the region.

I couldn’t be prouder to serve alongside more than 19,500 other financial advisors across Edward Jones who show up for our clients like we have the last 100+ years – listening, connecting and providing sound advice. It was a profound reminder of the nobility of the profession, the distinctiveness of Edward Jones, and how the trusted relationships we’ve built help us make a difference in the lives of so many families across North America.

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.