Awards & Accolades
Edward Jones Recognized for Exceptional Training Program
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For the 23rd consecutive year, Edward Jones has been recognized as a top training company, having been named to the 2023 Training APEX awards list by Training magazine. The award recognizes organizations worldwide that have the most successful learning and development programs. Edward Jones ranked No.14, up 10 spots from last year. Additionally, Edward Jones was recognized with a Best Practice Award for the firm’s JonesSpark program, an internal crowdsourcing tool to engage associates firmwide to help generate ideas and prioritize solutions to complex challenges. “We are intentional about investing in the learning, development and growth of our 50,000 associates,” said Suzan McDaniel, Edward Jones Chief Human Resources Officer. “From mentorship and job shadow programs to new learning platforms that help associates build life skills, our training helps all associates unleash their full potential and serve our 8 million clients – helping them achieve financially what is most important to them.” The Training APEX award evaluation process considers the success of a company’s overall training approach. Award criteria include training program and scope, budget, tuition reimbursement, infrastructure and delivery, evaluation and human resources. Edward Jones’ innovative training programs this year include: Company rankings for the Training APEX award were announced Feb. 13 at an awards gala during the 2023 Training Conference & Expo in Orlando, Fla.
2023 Training Magazine Training Apex Award, published February 2023, data as of September 2022, an application fee was required for consideration.
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Diversity, Equality & Inclusion:
Mentorship Supports Success for Diverse Financial Advisors at Edward Jones
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Mentorship is part of every financial advisor’s experience at Edward Jones. While the firm has always prided itself on a culture of collaboration, a recent survey confirms the importance of mentorship for diverse financial advisors. According to a new Edward Jones survey of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference qualifiers, 74% said seeking out a mentor is the most impactful area for diverse associates to focus on early in their careers.
Edward Jones deeply invests in the relationships its associates have with one another. This means both new and transitioning financial advisors benefit from mentoring and training programs. The home office supports financial advisors with lifelong professional development, reinforced with practical, tailored support and mentoring from fellow Edward Jones financial advisors.
“For professionals from more diverse cultures and backgrounds considering their next career move, Edward Jones is a place of belonging where they can expect mentoring support and other necessary resources to reach their individual potential,” said Vanessa Okwuraiwe, principal.
The unique culture of coaching ensures financial advisors from a wide variety of backgrounds get the support and feedback they need from fellow advisors to successfully build their practices.
Principal and financial advisor, Jesse Abercrombie, has seen the benefit of mentoring throughout his career at Edward Jones. From local financial advisors in his community helping him get a branch office off the ground to top producers coaching him as his practice grew, Abercrombie credits the support and accountability mentors provided in his success. Diverse mentors have been especially impactful for Abercrombie:
“When my business took off, they would call me to encourage me and say, ‘keep going.’ Seeing other successful, diverse financial advisors was so inspiring,” said Abercrombie
Similarly, financial advisor, Jasmine Butler, benefitted directly from mentoring after transitioning from a career in sales for a human resources provider. When seeking new opportunities, Butler said it was the training and mentoring resources at Edward Jones that drove her decision.
“Candidates should look for firm-provided support and mentoring to get started on the right foot,” said Butler.
“I’ve benefitted from both formal and informal mentors as I’ve built my practice.”
Jasmine Butler, financial advisor
Edward Jones understands that in order to deliver an incredible client experience, it must also create an environment where associates are nurtured and can be their authentic self. Mentorship is core to creating success for diverse financial advisors at Edward Jones.
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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Mentorship Supports Success for Diverse Financial Advisors at Edward Jones
The Financial Advisor Opportunity:
It’s Not About Balance. It’s About Work-life Integration.
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As a successful estate planning and small business attorney in Atlanta in the early 2000s, Helen Rice‘s professional life was taking off. No doubt, she had a full plate as a single parent with two small children, but she was managing through it. “What energized me was being able to help people,” says Helen. Still, she was frustrated that her compensation was not directly factored on client outcomes. And this discontent was reflected in all aspects of her life. She knew she needed a change. “I knew I would be happier …. and more successful.. in all aspects of my life, if I was completely fulfilled by my work.”
Through her professional network, Helen became acquainted with an Edward Jones Financial Advisor. In their conversations, Helen heard some key aspects about this person’s career – it allows you to:
- Build the kind of business you want to manage.
- Help people find solutions and plan for future.
- Develop long-term relationships with people.
In 2013, Helen sat down with her boys, explained that she was ready to make this change. It would not be easy in the beginning, but together, as a family with love and support, she was confident they would all be happier in the long run.
“Edward Jones is not your typical investment firm. There is such great support here…. especially from your fellow advisors. We really care about each other, and we want to be successful together.”
-Helen Rice Lake, Financial Advisor
Today, Helen’s practice is soaring with over $150M in assets under management and a client experience rating that far exceeds expectations. She attributes much of her success not just to her new career choice, but more to where she has chosen to practice. “Edward Jones is not your typical investment firm. There is such great support here…. especially from your fellow advisors. We really care about each other, and we want to be successful together. I consider some of my work colleagues to be my closest friends. In fact, the person who gave the toast at our wedding is now also my regional leader!”
And Helen’s sons? Their thoughts on their mother’s career journey can best be described this way. When Helen took them on their first Edward Jones Travel Award trip to Maui, her seven-year-old said, “Mom, I really like your new job!”
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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Mentorship Supports Success for Diverse Financial Advisors at Edward Jones
New Financial Advisor:
From Engineer to Financial Advisor: Bob Thompson
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Bob was an engineer for 20 years before he decided there were no more growth opportunities and he needed a change. He was always interested in financial planning, and he wanted to create a business that he could leave to his children. That’s exactly what he was able to do at Edward Jones.
“I graduated with an engineering degree and worked in that capacity for 20 years. The company I was with was downsizing, and though I didn’t have to leave, I was looking for a change as I didn’t see any growth opportunities there. I was interested in financial services, and I wanted to build something that I could leave to my children. That is what attracted me to Edward Jones.
“I saw an FA recruiting ad in The Globe and Mail and joined the firm in March 1995. I went through the financial advisor training in St. Louis and started building my business in July 1995. It was a high-risk transition for me. I wasn’t being laid off from my old company, but I also understood that if I did the FA work, I could be highly successful. I was surprised I was hired without experience in the financial industry, but Edward Jones offered robust training programs. What they needed were people who demonstrated success.
“Two and a half years later, I was asked to become a regional leader because I was able to grow my business tremendously. I became a limited partner a year later and joined the general partner ranks in 2001. I stepped out of the regional leader role in 2012 but continued to build my business.
“I have three children. My youngest daughter graduated from Ivey Business School. My hope was that she would take over, but she became a naturopath. My oldest daughter was not interested at all, and my son had gone to South Korea to teach English. He graduated with a degree in sports management but then took interest and got a diploma in financial planning. He was working at another financial firm.
“In 2015, he joined me in my office, and I transitioned some of my client relationships to him through an asset sharing plan. After that, I decided to move forward with the firm’s Retirement Transition Plan, which allowed me to transition my clients over a two-year period to my successors. Together, we managed a fairly large amount of assets at our branch. The Edward Jones’ Retirement Transition Plan allowed us to decide how many FAs we could share these assets with. I was able to transition up to one-third of the assets to my son. The rest was transitioned to other Edward Jones Financial Advisors in our community.
“I am nearing the end of the two-year transition and will retire soon. It’s the best succession plan I have seen because, unlike some other firms, I didn’t have to find someone to buy my book of business. My dream came true. My son took over a successful business I had built. That was one of the main reasons I joined Edward Jones.”
If you’re ready for a rewarding career as a financial advisor, you can learn more about the opportunity or find an opportunity near you to connect with a recruiter.
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Mentorship Supports Success for Diverse Financial Advisors at Edward Jones
New Financial Advisor:
From Teacher to Financial Advisor: Andrea Andersen
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Andrea Andersen worked as a teacher before switching to Edward Jones. Her passion for helping others achieve their goals was one of the main reasons she felt Edward Jones’ client-centric approach was a good fit. With a young family at home and numerous priorities, she also knew things needed to change in order to provide more work-life balance for herself. The move to Edward Jones is what Andrea was looking for to achieve her personal and professional goals.
“I was a high school teacher. Most people are surprised by this fact because it is a big leap to becoming a financial advisor. When I decided I wanted to make a career change at 36, I looked at all of the skills I brought to the table – planning, problem solving and, most importantly, building relationships. Financial advisor was one of the future in-demand professions, and when I looked at what it took to be a good advisor, it matched my list of strengths.
“What drew me to Edward Jones? The client-first focus, the partnership with a branch office administrator and the flexibility to create my day and my future, as I had a 6-year-old at home. I am a hard worker, and I knew that with the great training support Edward Jones provided, I would make it.
“It took time and energy, combined with an investment model that focuses on partnering with people for life to help them meet their financial goals, to create the life I have today: meaningful days sprinkled with adventures, all while having milestone celebrations with my clients who were able to meet their life goals. Nothing could be better.
“Now I am a principal at the firm, my days are busy interacting with people I care about – clients and colleagues – and my son wants to follow in my footsteps. As a teacher, I used to send my students off to face an unknown future. For me, the best part of being a financial advisor at Edward Jones is being able to support our clients and see them reach their goals because we don’t say ‘goodbye’ at graduation.”
If you’re ready for a rewarding career as a financial advisor, you can learn more about the opportunity or find an opportunity near you to connect with a recruiter. Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn.
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Mentorship Supports Success for Diverse Financial Advisors at Edward Jones
New Financial Advisor:
From Salesperson to Financial Advisor: Blair Lukan
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Blair Lukan worked in sales before switching careers to a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. He liked the idea of running his own professional practice, while having the flexibility to accomplish activities outside of work and spending time with his family. Working with Edward Jones gives him the autonomy and empowerment that he had been missing.
“I’m a career changer. Prior to joining Edward Jones, I worked in sales. One day at my old firm I was called into a meeting to discuss compensation. I left that meeting disappointed knowing that even if I put effort into my work, ultimately I was not in control of my destiny. I started to ponder my professional future, which led me to Edward Jones.
“Further research into the firm led me to understand I could set my own destiny, I would be paid for my efforts, I would have my name on the door and be responsible for creating my business. The other major draw was that I would establish a location and stay there. The expectation at my old firm had been, in order to be promoted you had to relocate. So, in 2004 I joined Edward Jones.
“What differentiates Edward Jones? First is the flexibility. The financial advisor role allows me to accomplish a lot of activities outside of work. For instance, I opened a Business Networking International (BNI) chapter in Saskatoon that provides tremendous personal and business networking value to its members. I’m also a father of three boys who are heavily involved in football and in the many years of frequent practices and games, I can count on one hand how many of them I’ve missed.
“Second is the leadership development opportunity. Six months ago I was asked to take on a role of regional leader. Leadership training programs at Edward Jones are superb. The firm invests so much in the individual associates that want to grow. I like to call it a “human performance laboratory”. Over the years, I’ve observed that the firm recognizes and helps develop individual contributors who have the potential of becoming a leader. The firm invests training time, leadership time and a plethora of resources to develop you through a variety of programs. And now in my role as regional leader I get to develop future leaders, which I truly enjoy.
“I always wanted to be successful. I was looking for independence, ability to earn and freedom to create. But to discover this leadership development portion was a surprise. I can’t imagine working anywhere else now. I’m excited to come to work every morning.”
If you’re ready for a rewarding career as a financial advisor, you can learn more about the opportunity or find an opportunity near you to connect with a recruiter. Connect with Blair on LinkedIn.
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Mentorship Supports Success for Diverse Financial Advisors at Edward Jones
New Financial Advisor:
Why Customer Service Matters in Any Career
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We’ve all heard the expression, “The customer is always right.” The phrase is an excellent reminder to always keep customer service in mind, even if you don’t work with the public. Consistent and courteous customer service is a soft skill that’s becoming increasingly vital to the workplace, as the demand for more personal service continues growing. Take a look at a few reasons why.
It builds trust
Even if you don’t work in retail or the food industry, you still have customers. Those who interact with you daily, from your colleagues to your leaders, are customers of your personal brand and your professional offerings. By providing them with a pleasant experience every time you work with them, it builds trust in your name, meaning more people will rely on you for future tasks.
It builds reputation
People rarely forget a negative customer service experience. However, the same applies for a particularly exceptional experience. If you’re working with outside vendors or a partner agency, your words and actions are a reflection of your company’s brand as much as your own. Going the extra mile by adding a please and thank you, or following up without being asked shows others that you care and adds to your company’s reputation.
It reduces friction
When everyone works to create a positive experience, it creates empathy for one another and reduces the number of conflicts in the office. When your colleagues or partners know you practice strong customer service, they’ll feel more comfortable bringing their issues to you for resolution. This allows problems to be solved more quickly.
Whether or not providing excellent customer service is in your job description, it’s important to keep these principles in mind. Creating a better service experience will enrich your brand and may even lead to new professional opportunities in the future.
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Mentorship Supports Success for Diverse Financial Advisors at Edward Jones
New Financial Advisor:
Quit the Cubicle. It’s Time to Branch Out.
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It’s a new year and that means a new opportunity to make changes to boost your job satisfaction and reach your career potential. As you’ve progressed in your career, you might have experienced the downsides of working in a cubicle. As a high performer, you may feel like you deserve an opportunity to earn your own space.
At Edward Jones, we agree. Our Financial Advisors operate from their own branch offices in the neighborhoods in which they serve. This arrangement offers many benefits over the traditional cubicle, including:
Autonomy
You are trusted to set your schedule, build client relationships, provide exceptional service and be the leader of your branch office. You decide how to best service your clients and community.
Collaboration NOT Competition
The independent branch office environment fosters collaboration between the Financial Advisor, a Branch Office Administrator who provides essential support services and other peers in the Financial Advisor’s network. The focus is on serving the clients with the full support of a range of resources. The only limitation is your own ambition.
Variety
No more monotony. Some days you may find yourself diligently working in the office, while others you are out in the community getting to know your existing and potential clients. Without the seclusion of a cubicle, the workday can be as interesting as you make it.
Ready to explore the Edward Jones Opportunity? Start here.
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Mentorship Supports Success for Diverse Financial Advisors at Edward Jones
New Financial Advisor:
Building Trust as a Financial Advisor | Edward Jones
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Read the transcript or view the audio described video.
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Considering a Financial Advisor career with Edward Jones? Hear from some of our current Financial Advisors about the position and the career path they took to build a successful practice.
Jennifer Heal was a national account manager in the manufacturing industry before switching to a Financial Advisor career. She was interested in the opportunity to utilize her sales skills in order to provide more meaningful and personal services to her clients.
What do you like most about managing your clients’ finances?
“This role is much more important to people. For my clients, it’s educating their children, preparing to get their son or daughter married, or retiring. There’s a lot more meaning behind being a Financial Advisor.”
What qualities do you think make a successful Financial Advisor?
“You should be good with people, able to listen and ready to make recommendations based on what clients discuss with you. You have to be a hard worker and be motivated. There’s no one standing over your shoulder telling you what to do, so you need to be self-driven in order to take next steps yourself.”
What advice do you have for someone with a sales background considering a career as a Financial Advisor?
“You don’t have to have a financial background. Some of us have sales backgrounds, but some of us were teachers or engineers. I think that as long as you’re willing to work hard and have the resiliency to get through the hard times, you can be successful.”
Thinking about a career change? See how your sales skills complement a new career as a Financial Advisor and why a career risk may not be so risky.
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New Financial Advisor:
Gaining Flexibility as a Financial Advisor: Mark Audet
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Considering a Financial Advisor career with Edward Jones? Hear from some of our current Financial Advisors about the position and the career path they took to build a successful practice.
Mark Audet worked as a director of analytics in the banking industry before switching careers to a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. He liked the idea of running his own practice and being able to take control of his long-term success, both professionally and personally. Working with Edward Jones gives him the autonomy and empowerment that he had been missing.
What were some of the factors that led you to explore a career change?
“I realized I was putting in so many hours at work in my prior role, but it wasn’t really impacting my family in a positive way. That wasn’t the work-life balance I wanted long term.”
What were some of your initial hesitations before you started as a Financial Advisor?
“Stepping away from an income level, and knowing that it could have been a lifestyle change for my family. But I welcomed it because of the long-term potential right around the corner. With the unlimited income potential, it was much more of an upside.”
What can a new Financial Advisor expect in his or her first year?
“Starting in the business is not easy, and no one should tell you that it is. So when you make the commitment, you have to prepare yourself for several years of really hard work. It’s a numbers game. If you’re driven and make the contacts you’re supposed to make, you can be successful.”
Thinking about a career change? See how your business skills complement a new career as a Financial Advisor and why a career risk may not be so risky.
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Mentorship Supports Success for Diverse Financial Advisors at Edward Jones
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