Five Questions With: Ronda L. Warrener

DOWN ECONOMY? "Some of the challenges have to do with this idea that Rhode Islanders tend to be a little more pessimistic about our local economy, and I think that makes them feel as though the whole country and the whole world is not growing, or is not as good as it really is." / COURTESY EDWARD JONES
DOWN ECONOMY? "Some of the challenges have to do with this idea that Rhode Islanders tend to be a little more pessimistic about our local economy, and I think that makes them feel as though the whole country and the whole world is not growing, or is not as good as it really is." / COURTESY EDWARD JONES

Ronda L. Warrener is a Wakefield-based financial adviser with Edward Jones.
She talks with Providence Business News about her career, trends in the Rhode Island financial services industry and her approach to advising.

PBN: Can you tell our readers a little bit about your professional history?
WARRENER:
I have been in the financial services industry in Rhode Island since 1987, when I started an internship at E.F Hutton. I started with them in college when I was an economics major at Rhode Island College. After I graduated, I stayed in this industry because I was excited by it and interested in it. I started my professional career in 1989 at Advest, a brokerage firm that was recently purchased by Merrill Lynch. I worked at Advest and a couple other brokerage firms, but my last position before joining Edward Jones was at MetLife securities.

PBN: How long have you been with Edward Jones and what made you want to join them?
WARRENER:
I joined Edward Jones in August of last year. There was an opportunity to come here to participate in a retirement-transition plan. An adviser in the Wakefield office was planning his retirement and he was looking for an adviser to take over his portion of the business. Someone had mentioned to him my CFP (certified financial planner) designation, which I’ve had since 1993, and he thought that might benefit his clients. We had some conversations and I decided after talking to a lot of people and going down to the home offices in St. Louis … that Edward Jones was the right place for my clients who’ve been with me for more than a couple decades. It has a long tradition of putting the clients’ best interests first. I know a lot of companies that say that, but they don’t always accomplish it. Edward Jones really does.

PBN: What’s challenging about being a wealth manager in Rhode Island?
WARRENER:
Some of the challenges have to do with this idea that Rhode Islanders tend to be a little more pessimistic about our local economy, and I think that makes them feel as though the whole country and the whole world is not growing, or is not as good as it really is.

PBN: Can you talk about any current trends you’ve identified within the financial services industry in Rhode Island?
WARRENER:
What I have observed is that for clients, as they get closer to retirement, they are really looking to consolidate their assets and reduce the number of financial advisers they have. So it’s a nice opportunity for people in my business to solidify those relationships and to come up with an income strategy for their retirement. The baby boomer generation are approaching retirement, so there are also opportunities for new financial advisers to make a career.

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PBN: What do you tell customers who might be skittish about investing in this economy?
WARRENER:
I think we do a really good job understanding what their risk tolerance is, and I think my practice ensures that clients have enough liquidity on hand to handle whatever emergencies might arise, even if the market gets a little challenge. If we get the asset allocation and the portfolio appropriate for the client, generally, clients will hold through challenging times in the market.

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