Edward Jones nurtures intimate, pleasant work climate

BALMY CLIMATE: Edward Jones’ goal is to provide employees the discretion to meet clients’ needs using their own judgment. From left, Barrington office members Amy Gomes and Brenda Novak, senior branch office administrators, and John Leary, financial adviser, regional leader and principal. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY
BALMY CLIMATE: Edward Jones’ goal is to provide employees the discretion to meet clients’ needs using their own judgment. From left, Barrington office members Amy Gomes and Brenda Novak, senior branch office administrators, and John Leary, financial adviser, regional leader and principal. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

BEST PLACES TO WORK 2018
1. MIDSIZE COMPANIES | Edward Jones
Employees in R.I.: 53
John Leary, financial adviser, regional leader and principal


Edward Jones’ financial service to its clients stretches back to its founding in 1922, as does its attention to the working environment supporting the people delivering it.

The financial advisory firm has stayed the course in terms of maintaining its small, family-like feel: Each branch generally only has a financial adviser and an administrator, for example. In all its years in operation, Edward Jones has never merged with or acquired another company.

Its growth, then, said John Leary, the Edward Jones financial adviser located in Barrington, is organic, stemming from team members delivering personal service. They are able to do this because the firm empowers them to do so, said Leary, who is also a regional leader and principal for the firm.

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“It’s that freedom, that you are the master of your ship,” said Leary, who has worked for the company for 15 years.

“You run it the way you think it should be run, and in that way, you feel the ownership,” he said. “No one is telling you not to close early on Fridays. We value that feeling that we are all in this together, rooting for each other to succeed.”

And there are more employees this year who are rooting for each other to succeed, up to 59 now in Rhode Island. The firm has 30 branches in the state that serve 200-300 clients, Leary said.

The firm’s longtime brand and reputation is still based on delivering a small-firm feel. So even with growth, making the workplace great and keeping morale and retention high is a priority at Edward Jones. Over the past year, Edward Jones has introduced more employee-recognition efforts, Leary said, commending those who have done an exemplary job, knowing that workplace pride will carry through to its client base.

Though the firm has had its Climate Committee firmly in place – tasked with planning fun, social events outside of work – it has ramped up its efforts recently, said Leary. Climate Committee events are family friendly, and the past year’s outings included a holiday party, pumpkin picking and a trip to the circus.

“It’s to increase engagement, so we all feel connected to the company,” said Leary, as well as a great chance for colleagues to see one another. The six-member committee in charge of planning is generally made up of financial advisers, administrators and spouses, he said.

As another engagement initiative, each year Edward Jones offers its Climate Survey, which goes directly to the employees for their take on what it’s like to work at the firm. The anonymous survey asks employees how they feel the leadership team is doing, if they would recommend Edward Jones to friends and family as a good place to work, and other considerations.

Leary does a conference call for the region after results come back. The company home office in St. Louis makes determinations on what resources individual regions need to make improvements and shares ideas across the company. Employees seeing their ideas put into action is a true way to show them they are important and valued, said Leary.

“There is an internal saying, ‘The region is the firm, and the firm is the region.’ However it feels here locally, it’s the climate that is most important … how we make it feel like a small, pleasant place to work,” Leary said.

The very nature of financial work also makes it a rewarding place to be, Leary said, with built-in job satisfaction. He sees his role and the role of advisers like him as more than just performing transactional tasks for clients, but as builders of lifelong relationships.

“If there is a family emergency or something happens to a client, something tragic, they really need you. You feel good when you’ve done all the work ahead of time. You feel that satisfaction; they trust you and trust your voice.”

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