[00:00:10.12] – Narrator

Welcome to the Edward Jones Insider Stories. Today, financial advisors Michael and Christie will be talking about growth and other opportunities.

[00:00:18.22] – Michael Fessler

I got asked when I first came here, tell me about the partnership. And what I didn’t realize was the partnership is really the culture. It’s really how we build our businesses together even though it’s our business. But I’m just as invested in your business as you are in mine, because if we’re not successful together, then we don’t have anything. Why did you choose a career at Edward Jones?

[00:00:41.09] – Kristy Stadnyk

I’ve always wanted to help people, always wanted to run a business, and I’ve always wanted to do it all on my terms. Oh, okay. And that’s why Edward Jones fits. I like that I am the advisor in the office.

[00:00:54.22] – Michael Fessler

The amount of resources that the firm provides, it’s just amazing to see how much they to bring to you to build your business, to say, Hey, I want to take my business from point A to point B. How can I get there? You just call the Home Office, business coaches, mentors, and just peers. My business has really taken off since I’ve come to Edward Jones.

[00:01:15.16] – Kristy Stadnyk

We want good people to work with. We want them to stay. We want to make sure they’re getting the support that they have the confidence to feel good about what they’re doing.

[00:01:24.22] – Michael Fessler

That’s a really different feel. It’s hard to get used to in the beginning because you’re used to just, Hey, I come to work. I run my business. I get paid, and that’s great. But when you come to Edward Jones, you really do feel like you’re an owner of the firm. And so your opinion really does matter because if we’re not happy, we are the client. So the firm is always asking how we can improve. And I think that’s a beautiful thing.

[00:01:48.03] – Kristy Stadnyk

Edward Jones offered what they call Ted Jones Coaching. And that was where somebody, another financial advisor in the area, gave up their time to spend time with me over six months. Looking back, I would have written a check for it. If it would have cost money, I would have paid for it. And as a result, my production doubled a year later. So I look back, and when I tell this story to other people, they don’t believe it, that someone would give that much of their time. But that’s Edward Jones. That’s part of the support. That’s why I’m not independent.

[00:02:23.15] – Michael Fessler

The difference between coming from a competitive firm to a partnership, it really is just how you interact with each other. It’s not being afraid that somebody is going to come in and take your niche or take your clients from you, but somebody is literally going to come in and help you bring in clients and help you expand your business and help you to get better at what you’re doing. It’s been a great 12 years for me here. I wish I would have come sooner. I would never leave Edward Jones.