This is Edward Jones’ 20th consecutive appearance in the annual List of Best Employers. Edward Jones ranked in the top 25% for employee engagement and was recognized for the training it provides new financial advisors and flexible work arrangements it offers employees so they can balance their work with their private lives.

Nearly 125 Canadian employers took part in the 2021 Best Employers survey that focused on employee engagement levels and work environment factors.

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.

Ian had spent over a decade between two big Canadian banks before joining Edward Jones five years ago. But he was dissatisfied, pressured by senior management, and he felt like the companies’ missions staying focused on the bottom line only, were out of alignment with his personal values. As he began exploring other options, he zeroed in on Edward Jones and learned more about their business model. What he found was the beginning of a more fulfilling career, where he is treated like a partner.

“After I retired from my role with the Canadian Armed Forces, I switched careers to become an investment advisor at one of the big banks. Over time, I started feeling like their mission and values didn’t align with my own. Looking for a change, I moved to one of the other banks, but unfortunately, encountered many of the same problems – it always seemed to be more of a numbers game. Our work was focused on bringing in more and more assets and generating more revenue, sometimes at the expense of the people we were supposed to be serving. That didn’t sit right with me. I always figured, if you look after the people, truly serving their interests, everything else will fall into place. Ultimately, that’s what attracted me to Edward Jones.

“Coming from a military background, you’re always aware of the competition and who you’re up against. Connecting with the Edward Jones’ talent acquisition team to learn more was eye-opening. At the time, I primarily ran a fee-based practice. A big selling point for me was learning that Edward Jones offered that option through their investment platforms. It’s not for everybody, but it is something that works particularly well for the type of clients I deal with.

“The other thing that appealed to me was the idea of entrepreneurship. At Edward Jones, I have my own office in my hometown, Belleville, and run my practice as I see fit. From the get-go, Edward Jones’ home office laid the groundwork for my transition into the company, supporting me every step of the way. It was a big difference from working for the big banks, where it always seemed like the advisors were getting the squeeze from senior management. At Edward Jones the differentiator is that home office is working to support us at the branches to make our lives and our clients’ lives easier.

“Anyone working in the investment business, especially on the brokerage side, is here because they’re a self-starter. At Edward Jones, I have been treated like a partner, not just an employee. Now, there’s no pressure on me as an advisor. No one’s pressuring me to push a specific product, because at Edward Jones we have no proprietary product. Instead we focus our time and attention on building long-term holistic strategies that are most appropriate for each individual client. This work environment is a huge benefit, it’s unique and I don’t take it for granted. But best of all, now I have a sense of ownership that just wasn’t there before. I know I’m working harder, but it doesn’t feel like work. A confession: sometimes I even vacuum my office.

“Since I made the move, my practice has grown exponentially. I’ve got more assets than I ever had in the past, but more importantly, I’m happy, because the work I do results in helping to create meaningful results for my clients and building strong long-lasting relationships. I changed employers and found a purpose that I live daily. That’s something, I think, our clients can sense. The feeling is hard to qualify, but I have a stronger sense of purpose now, wanting to do the best for my clients instead of just driving sales and punching the clock.”

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

“Edward Jones was the only financial services firm I knew of that held true to its core value of caring for people and I craved to work in an environment that fostered and appreciated human relationships.” – Blaine Johnston

Blaine started his career at Edward Jones, and after years of experience at other financial services firms, he came back. Why? Because through decades of market changes, Edward Jones stayed true to its core values of client service and employee recognition. Here is his story:

“I began my career in financial services at Edward Jones while I was in my 20’s. Although I had a successful start at Edward Jones, personal circumstances led me to the decision to leave the community where I lived, in search of a new start.

“I parted ways with Edward Jones on amicable terms; in fact, my Regional Leader referred me to a wholesaler role in another firm. I eventually found my way to a private investment firm in Kamloops, BC, where I spent the next 13 years building portfolios for high net worth clients.

“In 2018, I returned to Edward Jones. I had become dissatisfied with the level of service I was providing to my clients; I did not have the time each deserved. I realized that the relationship between client and advisor had eroded throughout our industry. My book size was immense and growing, but with very limited administrative support. It was becoming impossible to provide meaningful client service and highly stressful to keep up with the volume of work. I felt that I needed to work for a firm where I could be more effective for my clients while being fairly compensated for my hard work. I craved to work in an environment that fostered and appreciated human relationships.

“Even though I knew this was Edward Jones’ philosophy, out of curiosity I chose to interview at several firms to learn of their transition packages. It was quickly apparent that what Edward Jones was offering was the most impressive. I told my wife, an avid traveler, about the opportunity for a bonus of the Travel Award Program (TAP), and we agreed that Edward Jones was the only choice. The Edward Jones TAP trips are truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and Edward Jones advisors have an opportunity to join every year.

“As I began the move to Edward Jones, I was given a dedicated transition specialist and an experienced branch office administrator (BOA). I wasn’t familiar with the systems, so having a BOA to work with was extremely helpful. I am thankful that I was able to focus my energy on my clients instead of learning a new technology. I now have the support of 2 BOAs and we serve over 200 households, of which 40% transitioned from my former firm.

“Edward Jones is our industry’s best kept secret, so I was worried that my clients would be reluctant to move here. I was wrong. The trust they have in me combined with Edward Jones’ tools and research made it an easy choice. Those who moved are happy they did!

“Ours is an ever-changing industry. Edward Jones has adjusted to various market conditions, but never adjusted its core belief of looking after people, clients and associates alike. That is what, I believe, separates Edward Jones from all others.”

If you’re ready for a rewarding career as a financial advisor, you can click here to learn more about the opportunity and apply.

After six years at a bank, Jake made the move to join Edward Jones. What attracted him the most were limitless support and training opportunities suitable for all career stages and the flexibility to build his own business.

“After working at one of the Big Five Canadian Banks for six years, I knew I needed to make a change. I came to Edward Jones because it provided the best training to people who wanted to build their financial services practice from square one. I saw that none of the banks’ investment arms had the time or patience to do that. Edward Jones has provided me with ongoing training opportunities at different practice management levels. I value the career-long training tremendously since we, as financial advisors, are in an industry that constantly evolves and changes.

“The other reason for my move to Edward Jones was the flexibility of building my own practice. Starting out, I knew I needed to get to profitability quickly and sustain it. You are responsible for your own office’s success. There are many ways for you to build your practice. Edward Jones makes it easy: you have the flexibility with the support and the guidance of many head office professionals and resources.

“The unique partnership structure was also very appealing to me. I experienced true support from my peers within my region and the firm. We are genuinely helping each other and want everyone to be successful so that all partners benefit from the collective success. I am so grateful for the help that others gave me when I started, and now I do my best to give it back by helping more junior FAs.

“Flexibility and support do not end there. I opened a branch that is 10 minutes away from my home and my children’s school. A firm-paid branch office administrator and the advanced tools and technology really help me focus on deeply serving my clients and growing the business.

“I am happy to say that I am now a limited partner of the firm. Edward Jones has changed my life. I enjoy working with my clients every day and helping them achieve their goals. It’s meaningful work.”

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

It’s no surprise that compensation is a leading factor when financial advisors are considering changing firms. In the AdvisorHub study on brokerage-firm culture, done in partnership with Edward Jones, financial advisors said compensation was the top reason they’d consider leaving their current firm. While going independent is tempting for financial advisors looking to make a change, it may present considerable compensation uncertainty.

In a competitive landscape, recent enhancements to Edward Jones’ compensation structure are giving experienced financial advisors a strong reason to consider moving their practice to Edward Jones. The difference? Edward Jones compensation plans are designed to set up experienced financial advisors for success, individually evaluated and providing a competitive salary based on the assets they bring to the firm.

Transitioning experienced financial advisors can own their success on day one and avoid the compensation risk of independent practice. It’s the best of both worlds – support from a home office and autonomy to grow their practice independent of firm sales goals. Edward Jones financial advisors run their own practices, set their own goals and partner with clients on achieving their financial and life goals – and compensation reflects success in those efforts.

As a private partnership, Edward Jones has long held a transparent compensation philosophy – with less complexity and fewer modifications compared to the industry – that helps financial advisors uniquely realize their potential. First and foremost, compensation is commensurate with a financial advisor’s experience and practice maturity. New plan features are designed to optimize the financial opportunity and are tailored to support an individual’s unique practice. Key features include:

12 Month Salary: The firm will provide salary for the first 12 months based on the portability of the financial advisor’s previous assets. All commissions and fees are additive, so it closes the gap between prior year income and the commissions earned during the transition.

New Asset Compensation: Edward Jones will compensate financial advisors throughout years 1-6 for new assets transitioned to the firm within their first 12 months.

Bonus Compensation: Financial advisors are eligible for profitability bonuses as of their second year, which are paid on a trimester basis.

No “Loans”: There are no loans in the Edward Jones compensation package. No upfront or back-end payments requiring certain production levels. No claw backs and financial advisors are not contractually bound to the firm for the long term.

This “no ceiling” compensation approach is why some come – and stay. In fact, since 2016, approximately 75% of experienced financial advisors who joined Edward Jones from other firms remain today.

For experienced financial advisors considering a transition, Edward Jones balances freedom and flexibility with the certainty of a salary. Edward Jones financial advisors are rewarded for their hard work in the short-term and provided with the support they need to reach their full potential long-term. Learn more about compensation for experienced financial advisors at Edward Jones.

Download Our Comprehensive Compensation Guide.

Kevin was with one of the Canadian banks before joining Edward Jones four years ago. He felt restricted in his personal and professional growth when he started to explore other avenues. After speaking with several Edward Jones advisors in his region, the opportunity began to feel like a perfect fit, and years later, he is sure he made the right decision.

“Prior to Edward Jones, I worked for one of the big five Canadian banks in a business development role sourcing new investment relationships. I did this for over eight years, but over time, I felt the excitement and mental growth component diminish as did my desire to keep doing this for another 20 years. I was no longer challenged intellectually and wanted to continue growing personally.

“I explored a variety of opportunities that would allow for my personal growth and ability to serve clients. I evaluated bank brokerage channels, insurance companies as well franchise models in the financial industry. None really fit the ability to service clients in a manner that appealed to me, as the corporate agenda always seemed to overshadow my needs and those of my prospective clients. I always wanted to work for a firm that would value my input. I also knew I wanted to be a part of a larger organization to satisfy my need for the social aspect of professional life, which was important alongside my career growth objectives.

“I was approached by Edward Jones, and not knowing a lot about the firm, to be honest, initially I didn’t give it much consideration but told myself to be open-minded as good things can come from new experiences.

“It was only after the regional leader challenged me to explore the opportunity that I started to see that it was exactly what I’d been looking for. The region’s financial advisors took the time to answer all my questions and explain the Edward Jones opportunity so that I could make an informed decision.

“After some time, I realized that Edward Jones was the right place for me: I felt that I could work within the independent model that also allows for guided support. It took me some time to understand the way the firm operates as it was a big step away from a corporate environment. I started to see that it was not only about profit at Edward Jones. I came to understand that the firm is all about partnering with you to build a long-term client-centric investment business.

“It’s been almost four years since I started, and I know that I made the right decision to join this firm. I look forward to many more years of helping the firm build a stronger position in the Canadian investment landscape whilst servicing more investors as we continue to hire new and develop existing financial advisors in pursuit of this dream opportunity.”

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 Kevin on LinkedIn.

Prior to moving his practice to Edward Jones, Joshua was with one of the big Canadian banks. While researching the firm, many Edward Jones’ associates and financial advisors he spoke to shared the same message: building your financial services practice at Edward Jones is made easier with the support and partnership of fellow financial advisors and subject matter experts from the head office. Looking back, the only thing he would have done differently is join the firm sooner.

“When I worked for one of the big banks eleven years ago and I first met a successful financial advisor from Edward Jones, I was intrigued by what he had to say about the Edward Jones model. I had heard before how much support was available to financial advisors who join Edward Jones, and, wouldn’t you know, I heard the same message eight years later.

“I finally made the decision to venture down that path to learn if I could be an Edward Jones financial advisor. From the regional leaders I spoke to, the financial advisors I met, my recruiter, etc., the same message was being delivered, which was the idea that I could build my business with a proven business model, with all the support I would ever need throughout my entire career.

“Looking back, I wish I took the opportunity sooner. Edward Jones has been everything I was told it would be and more.

“Everything from the interview process to the onboarding to the training and up until this day have been the most rewarding journey and the best decision of my life. This is a firm that wants you to be successful and will support you in attaining that success. The rest is up to you!”

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 Joshua on LinkedIn.

Kim was already a licensed financial advisor prior to moving to Edward Jones. Read her story to find out why she joined and stayed to develop a successful practice at Edward Jones.

“I was a fully licensed advisor with another firm. It is important to me to always do what is in my clients’ best interest. At my previous firm, I felt advisors were pressured on the investments to use within clients’ portfolios. Drastic changes were made to payout schedules, and the compensation started to shrink. I began to contemplate a move and was surveying my options.

“Edward Jones was not on my radar at the time, but one of my colleagues suggested that I should consider all options. I had received a couple of communications from Edward Jones by then, and I thought I would explore it further. The head of financial advisor talent acquisition came to Charlottetown, and we scheduled a dinner meeting.

“During the dinner, we talked about many things, one of them being our passion for dogs. It turned out we knew many of the same people. We had a long chat, half of it spent talking about Edward Jones. I made the decision to explore this opportunity along with others. At that time, I was also dealing with my daughter’s ski injury, and we had frequent medical trips to Halifax. I knew transitioning my business would be a very busy time. I did not want to make a decision until my daughter was healed. While all other firms pressured me to make a decision, Edward Jones called to ask about my daughter.

“At that point, having done my research, my mind was made up: I was going to Edward Jones. They moved mountains for me and helped me open a new branch office in 2017.

“Doing what’s right for my clients is very important to me. Edward Jones talks about how important their clients are. Here, financial advisors are given the best tools to assess what is truly best for the clients, and there are no proprietary products. We are not pressured into buying something that is more profitable for the firm.

“What is also unique is having a branch office administrator (BOA) who allows me to do my job, whereas at other brokerage firms, I needed to spend time doing the administrative duties.

“I have the job satisfaction here that I never had anywhere else, and the reason for that is the leadership opportunities – I am given plenty, to develop myself and to help other newer advisors. At Edward Jones, everybody matters, and you can grow as much as you want. The sky is the limit, and it makes coming to work very exciting. I love to coach and help less-experienced advisors, and I am able to do that in this job. What I do truly matters here, and it’s an amazing feeling.”

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 Kim on LinkedIn.