Edward Jones reviews

There's going to be attrition. Lots of attrition. Most of the veterans won't cozy up to new FAs until you've been there a while because what's the point of getting too close if you're likely not going to last? It's a very difficult business and most never break through. By "most" I mean the vast majority will never make it (90+%?). They won't reveal the numbers but starting out as a "New/New" is next to impossible without an incredible amount of hard work, amazing skill set, lots of luck and a robust warm market to get your ball rolling. It's weird - those in your cohort that you think don't have a prayer eventually take off. Those that you think will make it sometimes don't. You may think you've got what it takes only to discover that you're surrendering your branch office key to the person that's going to take things over. Sometimes all it takes is the market you're in. Sometimes all it takes is a brother or uncle that feeds you referrals all day, every day. Sometimes it's a complete mystery why some make it and all the rest fail. Sometimes it simply boils down to timing. It's a bit cultish. You will be asked to drink the Kool Aid. It's delicious and not at all difficult to swallow. Those that have it good have it really good and they like what they've got. It's approximately a 30%/70% or 40%/60% split on commissions. That increases once you get partnership shares but those don't come for a decade or more, depending on your production. If your branch is profitable,there are additional bonuses. It's as good as LPL or other similar broker dealers long term. Not so much short term. You'll always be a prospector. You always need to ask for referrals. You spend months knocking on doors of households that have no money to begin with and aren't home anyway because husband and wife are both at work and the kids are at school. You'll be turned away from CPAs, tax preparers, estate planning attorneys, etc. because they're already in bed with a relative or buddy from high school. I wouldn't want to do it again. I didn't try to take my book to a competitor because I was convinced that if I couldn't make it at EDJ, I sure as hell wouldn't make it any place else!

Working at Edward Jones is like being in an abusive relationship. They mostly only hire people with no experience and completely new to the industry. Then the abuse starts. They compare you to other Fa's in the region who took over huge offices. If you aren't grossing well over the "exceeding" standards they say you aren't door knocking enough and you need to try harder. After awhile you start getting tired and discouraged. You see other new FA's leaving left and right. They literally do skits at meetings portraying the evils of other top financial services companies. They tell you that you can't get any better and if you ever leave you'll regret it. My husband and family begged me to quit. But I was so caught up in the "culture" that I was convinced that no where else would be better. I finally went independent with 3 others from Edward Jones. We are all much much happier. Get started at Edward Jones. Get trained and do the mandatory 3 years there so you don't owe them anything for your training. Then run for your life.