Pros
Edward Jones support people are excellent, the pay is OK, and the benefits are pretty good.
Cons
The problem with this company is that every office is independently owned and operated- the Financial Adviser is the person paying your yearly salary and not Edward Jones. So they not only want you to answer the phone, respond to e-mail, set up appointments, enter in data, and greet every single person like your LONG LOST relative BUT you also end up watering the plants, taking out garbage, making sure the coffee cups are clean, wash dishes,vacuuming etc etc etc. Why? Because the FA is more than likely too money hungry or cheap to hire a proper person to do it (since all overhead comes out of the FA's pocket and NOT Edward Jones). Its a real incentive for the FA to cut costs and work the BOA to death.My Financial Adviser dumped so much extra crap on me everyday that you are never caught up or feel at ease. I never had time to complete my training as I was constantly doing some housekeeping task or dealing with the clients. Occasionally I could find some time here and there to complete a few of the modules.The BOA I replaced was there 5 years. She came in a few days a week during the transition and was the most stressed out hard working woman I think I've ever met. After 5 YEARS, she STILL wasn't comfortable during her job. She ran around like a chicken with its head cut off and was constantly stressed. What is more, the "training" you receive is BS. You are expected to do on-line training modules-like 75 of them over 6 months- while you are trying to provide excellent customer service (as well as all the other BS). Most companies send you to training classes for a few weeks and make sure you know the job BEFORE you start. Edward Jones is like- its your job to learn this on your own, ask somebody, or fiqure it out yourself AS you are learning the job. Speaking with other BOA's in other offices -there was no difference in how things worked there. The "Clients" are generally either extremely needy and have not a clue what investing is all about OR really wealthy people with an attitude that the FA is available 24/7 and when they call- you need to drop everything and answer their inquiry. The affluent understand the high sales charges they pay the FA and feel that for the money they are paying their FA ,that gives them the right to treat you like crap. I heard numerous clients complain of the high fees while waiting to meet with the FA. My FA literally sends every single affluent client a several hundred dollar birthday or anniversary gift- so they do business with them and stay with EJ. If the FA didn't give a kick-back in the form of gifts- I think most of them would eventually leave. Its pretty sad to think that the only reason they stay is the free stuff and constant butt kissing from the FA. I know that was the deal at my office. I have worked as a Financial Advisor for Merrill Lynch for 11 years and have been in this industry for 20 years. I have never seen such a bad corporate structure. Don't waste your time with Edward Jones. I'm sorry that I ever took the job!!!!!