My Edward Jones story
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I think you aren't listening to the OP. He/she said that they have come to find that they like working in the box, the corporate world, having other people to talk to daily. Here I am assuming they mean people other than clients or prospects.I think its fair to let someone have the opportunity to succeed and do what they want in their life. Clearly he didn’t see it by sitting at a desk and giving in to “the man”. Maybe being a 100% independent broker and having a schedule where you can make your own hours is something that suits him. I’ll leave it up to him to make the choice or not.
well the hamburger is hamburger.
rule of 3 is something I never heard of, but good to know. Jedi mind trick is the one where you put your head down and keep it glued to the prospecting log when asking for the number. If you do not look up, there will be some awkward silence and then the person will give you the number. It worked about 80-90% of the time. The good thing is that if you do this enough, you'll get used to the awkwardness, but the people on the other side won't.I’m going to go out on a limb and say that norcalstoppy filled his prospecting log from the phone book and realized at his RL exam that he wouldn’t be able to survive Eval/Grad.
I can see no other reason for backing out at that point in the game.
I just wonder, was the decision made before the RL exam or when your RL said, “tell me a little about this prospect?”
"If within three (3) years after receipt of your can sell date, your employment with Edward Jones is terminated, you maintain registration of your license with FINRA and accept employment with any entity as either an employee or independent contractor engaged in the sale of securities and/or insurance business, you agree to reimburse Edward Jones the reasonable cost of the training...........The amount you agree to reimburse Edward Jones is $75,000.00." I had to decide if Jones was a good fit for me now or in 3 years. I chose now.I’m going to go out on a limb and say that norcalstoppy filled his prospecting log from the phone book and realized at his RL exam that he wouldn’t be able to survive Eval/Grad.
I can see no other reason for backing out at that point in the game.
I just wonder, was the decision made before the RL exam or when your RL said, “tell me a little about this prospect?”
Except if you are a lawyer, you will have a tough time arguing that one. Not only is that contract very complete, it is also very reasonable. If you use Jones’ training for another firm’s benefit, Jones will ask to be reimbursed for that training. If you think you found an “out” by quitting just before Eval/Grad, I believe you are mistaken.
Judging by your posts, I am sure you did not join Jones with the intent to defraud them of their training, but quitting just before the contract “goes into effect” is exactly what someone would do if it was their intent to defraud.
I’m positive you are not the first person to think they found this “loophole”. I would just get ready for a bill.
Still@Jones - I believe norcal is right - I’ve known several people who left just before Eval/Grad, and Jones didn’t come after them.
Still@Jones, I'm going to guess the type of life you've lead up until now. You were average student. Went to JC and transferred into a 2nd tier college. Graduated, tried the corporate and you felt miserable, because of the politics, competition, or what have you. The job probably paid hourly. And then you started your career with Jones as a BOA and worked for a big producer. Actually your first job out of school could also have been Jones. He goodknighted you in as a FA. Probably in your 3rd or 4th year in as a FA, in and out of seg 3 production level. You're making the type of money that's envy of your peers, but only a fraction of your biggest client. Your loyalty to Jones is admirable. Your short sightedness and narrow perspective that comes from inexperience and arrogance is not. You said there's no reason why I should've stopped at the stage that I was in. Let me make it clear. You will not understand because you're incapable. You don't see the reasons, because you don't know better. I normally wouldn't careless what people say on the forums, but I read your other post to the other Jones newbie. He doesn't have the right mindset to be successful at Jones, and he probably needed some good guidance from a vet. You took it up a notch and left some harsh comments that was uncalled for. You remind me of the only prick that I met at Jones. Above description was his path to success, if you can call it a success. How far apart is your own story from the above? Probably not very. GG.Except if you are a lawyer, you will have a tough time arguing that one. Not only is that contract very complete, it is also very reasonable. If you use Jones’ training for another firm’s benefit, Jones will ask to be reimbursed for that training. If you think you found an “out” by quitting just before Eval/Grad, I believe you are mistaken.
Judging by your posts, I am sure you did not join Jones with the intent to defraud them of their training, but quitting just before the contract “goes into effect” is exactly what someone would do if it was their intent to defraud.
I’m positive you are not the first person to think they found this “loophole”. I would just get ready for a bill.
Completely wrong…I’ve already said in another post that I’m between
KYC & Eval grad…and not getting any special treatment. I also do
not think I was mean to anyone…although, I don’t mix words when
commenting to someone who I think is making a mistake.
I’m curious about your post because I too am struggling with the Jones
model (especially the phone work/script). But, much like a bad wife, this is
the company I chose…and I’m going to keep working on making it work.
I learned long ago (and not at junior college) that you should give
every job at least a year before moving on. For Jones, I believe PDP is the right time to make that assessment.
You are correct about one thing: I am shortsighted & I have a
narrow perspective. It’s cause I’m new. But I’m sure that no matter
who’s perspective you hear…quitting Jones after 8 weeks to join AXA
doesn’t sound like you are following a plan for success.
hmmm…maybe the comment about going back to waiting on tables was a little mean…sorry!
I've heard this one before, but the folks who say it never have any proof to back it up. So, is it staged only on the part of EDJ or are NetApp, Boston Consulting Group, Google, and Wegmans Food Markets in on the staging too? Then maybe it's staged all over the country too. Jones has come up as one of the top 10 places to work from CT to WA and many parts in between. But, I'll bet that's rigged too.c’mon wind, you have to realize those thimgs are staged.
To say that it’s staged is pretty silly. On the other hand, it’s also pretty silly to put much meaning into it. Bagging groceries at Wegman’s is a great place to do it if that’s what someone wants to do. Working at Jones is probably a great place to be an advisor for someone who likes the Jones model.
I never met a single person on a Div trip or otherwise (region, trip to St. Louis for BDW, Visions, etc.) who was ever interviewed. I don’t even know someone who knows someone who was interviewed for that. RegisteredRep report card - yes, I have met some of those.
I know someone at SAS who was interviewed though, and I’ve never worked there. He told me that he knew ahead of time that he was going to be called, and was coached by the PR department.
You tell me what that means.
I remember reading about Northwestern Mutual in one of those Fortune best places to work articles. It talked about how the employees were given free meals in the cafeteria. Obviously, in that case, they were talking about home office employees. This could be the same. I haven't read it, so I have no idea.
So, because you've never met anyone who was interviewed, that means it's rigged? I've never actually met anyone who won a World Series. That must mean those are rigged too. And the one person you know who has been interviewed was coached? At a different company? That OBVIOUSLY means that the exact same thing happens at EDJ and all of the other companies that make that list.
You know what that info means to me? Nothing. You have a single instance of coaching and are projecting that instance to all of the other companies. EDJ specifically because you have a thing against them. There are (according to Fortune) 34,000 people who work for EDJ. In your travels you've mabye met 1/100th of them. I can't say that I know anyone who was interviewed, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. For all I know they only interview GPs, RLs, department leaders, and team leaders. They might not interview just the lowly associates. However, I find it a stretch to assume that it's staged or rigged based on your very limited sample group. Come back and talk to us when you've found a person at each of the top 10 companies who says they were coached by their PR department.Wind, I’ve never made an anti-Jones post. However, you are coming across as someone who is guzzling the Kool-Aid. Just like there are plenty of reasons that one would want to work at Jones, there are plenty of reasons that one would want to leave Jones or not work at Jones. It’s not all about money.
Have you ever been in the military? Ever gone through boot camp? It’s the same psychology at Jones. Typically they take people who have never been in the business. They train you in their model and preach “all for one and one for all”. They do a very good job at it. So does the military. The pyschology comes from everyone having a shared experience. Those bonds you build in boot camp are strong, same with Jones training. You go to St. Louis knowing nothing, are in unfamiliar territory and are in a vulnerable emotional state. Everyone is feeling the same way.
They build their model on success, meaning those that make it through the first few years will probably make it and have a very good view of the firm. Maybe not in the current economic times but previously. If not they will have already left or will be leaving. Most of these people do not have anything in the industry to compare it to. So if you do get interviewed you have nothing but glowing reports for the survey. I think the first couple of years you still believe in the "Jones way", the next few are crucial times, these are the years decisions are made. Stay in the industry or stay with Jones. After 5 or more years if you are still with Jones then you are content and will give glowing reports. My couple of pennies.