[magicmarker]

Hi All,

Your prior comments about State Farm opportunities have been enlightening and now I'm reconsidering whether or not to follow thru on their recruitment process.
I have a background in the P&C industry but am intrigued with financial services (and know some about this industry).
I would like advice on opportunities with Edward Jones.
Do they offer the support in which they claim for new financial advisors?
About how much capital does one need coming into this opportunity? Do you need to buy a book?
Considering our market, is this a good time to become a financial advisor?
And finally, does anyone have anything positive to add about State Farm?
Thanks kindly, I look forward to your responses.
MM

[patch36]

Be ready to exploit, I mean call, your closest 100 friends and family members. Most P&C companies don't sell books anymore, they assign them. I would not expect that unless you are in an area they are desperate for agents.

Ed Jones hires a lot of new FA/agents and hopes a few survive. You will essentially be on your own to generate business no matter what they tell you. What few leads and customers you may be given will not support you or even pay your expenses.

The only place I have come across that will hand you a book, pay for your licensing, schooling and subsidize you the first year is First Command. Great organization and people, but it is a very regimented process. Lots of support and training, but it comes at a cost, a cost you have already decided to endure, which is your independence. I would go there before I would consider the meat grinder at Jones or State Farm.

[xrac]

First let me say that I know nothing about EDJ first hand but only what I have heard from others. If you want extensive opinions go and visit RR. There is very little good said about them there and my opinion is that the general opinion on RR is probably right. But that being said they do offer some good training if you havent been in the business before. You can work there for a year or two get trained and licensed then move on to a real BD or go INDY. My understanding is that EDJ will make you cold walk residential neighborhoods the first year. If you join EDJ just be careful not to drink the kool aid too much.

[Delta76]

Be ready to exploit, I mean call, your closest 100 friends and family members.

I can't speak for all the companies, but I can tell you Edward Jones doesn't make you exploit your friends and family. In fact, I'm friends with two Jones reps and they both said there was no emphasis in calling on family and friends during their training. You will be on your own after training, but they give you a system to run with, the rest is up to you. Yes, the system is heavily dependent on door knocking, but I can tell you both of my friends have been fairly successful starting in an area without many contacts.

After you learn the business and build a clientele, you can always transfer to another firm. As much as people talk poorly about Jones, I have a lot of respect for the company and the reps I have come across.

[JRoot]

In addition to the previous comments...you go to a week long training in "door knocking", knock on doors for 5 weeks and come back to training and learn to convert those prospects. You are not selling at the door...just introducing yourself. I know a girl who is doing awesome and is appoaching her 5th year and she attributes her fast start to this door knocking. I believe EJ has the highest success rate in the FA industry for newbies...just my opinion though.

The forum that will give you the most insight on EJ is Registered Rep. Broker Forums (hopefully it's ok to post this)

[seadevil]

I currently work at at a bank and the VP of the branch that I am at used to be an Eddie Jones Rep. He enjoyed it and said that sometimes he wishes that he hadn't of left. Received an offer for an excellent opportunity at the time. He is now getting ready to retire and is considering to supplement his income by being a fill in rep. Basically if someone is fired, quits or transfers, he would go to that office and run it until a new rep is trained and assigned.

[Winter]

Originally Posted by JRoot

In addition to the previous comments...you go to a week long training in "door knocking", knock on doors for 5 weeks and come back to training and learn to convert those prospects.

I think they have this routine, or at least some have done this, where you go out door knocking before you are licensed and just meet folks and tell them that you are just doing a survey and then you find out where they are at. Then when you are licensed and up and running you go back and sell to them or make them clients or whatever.

I wouldn't do that and I think it is a securities violation but that is just my view.


Winter

[magicmarker]

Thanks for your comments/suggestions.
JRoot - I did go to Reg Rep and found more helpful insight on EJ.
Now, I need to ask myself: do I play it safe or follow my passion? I guess life's too short to play it safe and I'm pushing 45...Mmmm...I've been playing safe for nearly a half century; time to through caution towards the wind....
Thanks again!
MM

[xrac]

Originally Posted by Winter

I think they have this routine, or at least some have done this, where you go out door knocking before you are licensed and just meet folks and tell them that you are just doing a survey and then you find out where they are at. Then when you are licensed and up and running you go back and sell to them or make them clients or whatever. I wouldn't do that and I think it is a securities violation but that is just my view. Winter

If you are not licensed I don't see a violation. There was a guy calling Cramer's show on TV saying he was holding a bunch of Bear Stearn's stock and wanted to know if he should sell. Cramer tells him to hold it, it's poised for a jump. 3 days later Bear Stearns tanked. Because Cramer is not licensed and does not charge or sell his services he can give investment advice over the TV and not be held liable.

[Winter]

Originally Posted by xrac

If you are not licensed I don't see a violation. There was a guy calling Cramer's show on TV saying he was holding a bunch of Bear Stearn's stock and wanted to know if he should sell. Cramer tells him to hold it, it's poised for a jump. 3 days later Bear Stearns tanked. Because Cramer is not licensed and does not charge or sell his services he can give investment advice over the TV and not be held liable.

Cramer's arrangement is not deceptive, not does it have the ultimate goal of soliciting sales so, arguably, it does not fall into the category of the solicitation and sale of securities.

In the Edwards Jones scenarios that I have heard reported, unlicensed newbies go door to door under the guise of just doing a survey about what folks thing about this and that and what financial matters are of interest to them etc. Then they return later as licensed folks and try to turn those interests into business. To me, their "survey" is prospecting pure and simple and disguised solicitation or involvement in a process whose ultimate goal is the sale of securities. It is dangerous ground to try to avoid violating a securities license by not being licensed.

Obviously Edward Jones would not agree but lots of marginal activities are ultimately prohibited so I dont assume that it is acceptable just because the SEC or FINRA have not stopped it yet. In addition, most states have laws that prohibit solicitation or contact with prospects where you fail to disclose that you are an agent or involved in the sale of insurance or securities. Why are they in the house?

In addition, as noted, I still think it is unethical even if it is okay with the feds and the states. I dont want someone doing a "survey" with either a young and naive couple in their 20's not do I want them doing it with my elderly relatives or with anyone elses either. I don't equate moral and ethical with simply not violating a rule or law but acknowledge that this has become an outdated way of thinking.

Winter

[DM77]

Originally Posted by magicmarker

Hi All,

Your prior comments about State Farm opportunities have been enlightening and now I'm reconsidering whether or not to follow thru on their recruitment process.
I have a background in the P&C industry but am intrigued with financial services (and know some about this industry).
I would like advice on opportunities with Edward Jones.
Do they offer the support in which they claim for new financial advisors?
About how much capital does one need coming into this opportunity? Do you need to buy a book?
Considering our market, is this a good time to become a financial advisor?
And finally, does anyone have anything positive to add about State Farm?
Thanks kindly, I look forward to your responses.
MM

I work in a financial planning office with 2 former EDJ reps. One quit EDJ 5 years ago and is now my boss (I have 2 bosses) and the other was 'let go' in April because he didn't make the EDJ cut (you have to have a certain level of production or you're fired). EDJ is probably a good training ground for someone who wants to get into the business...they help you with your licensing and all that. However, the products/companies they want you to sell is quite limiting. And they have this attitude that if they don't sell it then it's bad stuff. We had one seasoned EDJ rep tell a now former client that a SPIA we sold him was ripping him off. This guy had no idea what a SPIA even is and also didn't have a clue on why the SPIA was better than just taking all of the money out of the fixed annuity it came from (the client had a 50% gain...better to spread the taxes out over 5 years than to get hit with a huge tax bill). We re-explained everything to the client over and over and he seemed to understand but still, the little negative seed was planted and he ended up moving everything to the EDJ guy.

As for your question about the timing of going into financial services...I don't think it's a good time for a newbie to get in the business. Right now people are scared and are less apt to invest--more apt to take money out. We're not even doing much with fixed annuities right now compared to 2002. Money is tight and bills are going up. I know that everything's on sale and can't wait to see the upturn again but a lot of people feel it's different this time--maybe after November it'll be a little better...we'll see.

Remember though, State Farm is proprietary and you can only sell their stuff (unless I have the wrong info---last I knew it was State Farm Mutual Funds and that's it). You won't be able to do a whole lot with financial services. In fact, one of our clients is a State Farm agent because she can't do the stuff we do (other mutual fund companies, stocks, etc).

Oh, one other thing...I don't know if EDJ or State Farm are popular in your area (i.e. one or the other every few blocks) but in case they're not very common there, EDJ isn't shy about setting up several offices in the same areas. Just because there might be 1 or 2 there now doesn't mean they won't add more reps (read more competition for you) soon.

Just some thoughts....

[Soaringagent]

I think that State Farm would be a better option, if they hire you. I've heard that it's very difficult now to become a State Farm insurance agent.