Growing a Culture of Belonging: Morgan Sheridan

Morgan has been with Edward Jones since he interned right out of university. As an out, gay man, he didn’t see himself represented in the financial advising industry. But at Edward Jones, he found an inclusive culture that encouraged him to show up as his authentic self. Now, 14 years later, he runs a branch out of his hometown of Barrie, Ontario and is working to help others in the LGBTQ community feel seen at work.

“I joined Edward Jones right after graduating from university. I wasn’t sure whether I wanted a career in finance, but I quickly realized that Edward Jones was the right fit for me. Dedication is recognized here, you’re free to build your own business, you’re given career-long training opportunities – but most important to me, is the culture.

As an out, gay man, I’ve always felt supported and celebrated at Edward Jones. Managing Partner Penny Pennington once said something that stuck with me: she said the goal at Edward Jones is for diverse people to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

 I’m a white man, so outwardly I don’t look diverse. I could easily hide the fact that I’m gay. But Edward Jones doesn’t want me to. They want me to bring my full, authentic self to work, and I think that’s wonderful. 

In the finance industry, the LGBTQ community is underrepresented. But Edward Jones has a massive LGBTQ and Allies Business Resource Group in both the US and Canada markets. We meet a few times a year over Zoom and share experiences as professionals serving a diverse group of clients.

LGBTQ people face some unique struggles in the workforce. For one thing, every time you meet someone, you have to come out again, and you never know what the reaction will be. For example, I’ve got a photo of my three-year-old twins up on my screen in my office. People assume I’m married to a woman and ask about my wife. I then must explain I’m married to a man. Thankfully, in my experience, the response has been positive, but it’s always in the back of your mind, “How will this go?”

Having a community that understands what that feels like, and knowing we face some of the same struggles makes me feel supported and seen. 

Edward Jones has always been open and celebrating. Everyone within the company – from other financial advisors to home office associates – is willing to help. We’re not competitors here. At Edward Jones, I’m highly valued for what I do and respected for who I am, and that’s priceless.” 

If you’re ready for a rewarding career as a financial advisor, you can learn more about the opportunity or apply now. Connect with Morgan on LinkedIn.