Hartford Business Journal

BPTW-6 Hartford Business Journal • March 24, 2014 www.HartfordBusiness.com Best Places To Work In CT 2014 W i n n e r Ranked #2 Large Company Category Edward Jones caters to employees' needs By Ken Liebeskind Special to the Hartford Business Journal S t. Louis financial services firm Edwards Jones — with 60 branches in Connecticut — attracts and maintains talent by being flexible with employees and their needs. Marty McMahon, the advisor who heads the Edward Jones Windsor office, said the company's willingness to work around their employees's lifestyles led him to join Edward Jones 15 years ago. "When I was making a career change I was in branch banking and there were strict hours to be there when the customers were there," McMahon said. "I had a 7-year-old son with Asperger's syndrome who had special needs, and there were a lot of demands on my time. "I had to go to planning sessions at school and doctor appointments, he added. "At Edward Jones, I was allowed to adjust my schedule to meet my family needs. It meant the world to me. I put in a lot of hours during my first years. I worked hard, but I could take care of my family." Cheryl Ranney, the Enfield advisor in Enfield, came to Edward Jones 15 years ago because it offered more stability than the bank she was working for at the time. "I was working in a bank as a financial ser- vices consultant, and it was in the process of a merger," Ranney said. "It would have been the second merger, and every time it merges your future is unsure. At Edward Jones, I was able to open an office in the area I chose and concentrate on serving my clients." The experience was so good that Ranney helped her military veteran son get a job with Edward Jones in Virginia. "My oldest son was in the Navy, and when his enlistment was up, he was looking for a career," Ranney said. "I thought he'd make a great Edward Jones advisor. He's smart and caring, and Edward Jones likes to hire ex-military. "He wanted to live in the Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia, so he went to Williamsburg seven years ago and established an Edward Jones office there, she added. Advisors enjoy working at Edward Jones because of its local service model said Jeff Burdick, the Edward Jones regional leader for Connecticut. It hires advisors and admin- istrators and allows them to open offices in locations they choose. "It's a great place to work because we identify where we want to work, so there are no commutes," Burdick said. The company's goal is to provide personal investment services for clients. "We sit down with a five-step process," Burdick said. "We talk to clients about where they are now, what is their current snap- shot, we talk about their financial goals and dreams, where they want to go in the future, and what they have to do to get there. We take a holistic approach to investments and retire- ment planning." The company specializes in long-term investment opportunities for seasoned investors, including municipal, government and corporate bonds, mutual funds, common stocks, and tax-advantaged securities. Ranney said Edward Jones employees work well together and share a common philosophy. "Everyone who works for the firm has the same values; we're like an extended family," she said. "We're all focused on the client who sits in front of us, and our goal is to serve the client like a well-tuned machine." Another key benefit to working at Edward Jones is the money. "There's unlimited compensation," Burdick said. "We receive profitability bonus- es three times a year based on the overall firm and the particular branch." Edward Jones has received numerous recognitions for employee satisfaction, from Fortune Magazine, WealthManagement.com, J.D. Power and Associates, Training maga- zine and SmartMoney. Burdick said there are 60 Edward Jones branch offices in Connecticut, and the com- pany is looking to expand. "We'll add another 40 locations in Con- necticut," he said. ● E.A. Quinn is the premier commercial landscaper in Connec cut, providing mely and professional service. We specialize in: commercial landscape design and installa on, hydroseeding, erosion control as well as sustainable land management. eaquinn.com 860-633-0115 Glastonbury Serving Southern New England For a Greener Tomorrow Offer the benefit of a wellness program. We have the expertise to customize and design a fitness center that will meet your company's needs and budget. totalfitnessequipment.com Contact Andria Ward for more information. award@totalfitnessequipment.com 860-290-8842 x24 • Greater Productivity • Positive Corporate Image • Reduced Healthcare Costs • Key Employee Benefit Call for a complimentary workplace consultation Are you offering your employees the benefit of fitness? Jeff Burdick, the Edward Jones regional leader for Connecticut

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