NM, Jones (as well as a lot of firms) recruit heavily from the armed forces.  I would suggest you submit your application, talk to some Jones guys in your area, then ask the recruiter for names of armed forces veterans that you can talk to in the field (that have been out less than 10 years).  They are the ones that will give you the real picture.  But it’s a good choice for a few reasons:

Thanks for the advice - I’ve sent some questions to a Jones rep where I live. I’ll just have to wait for his answers.

…sure they enjoy the military, but are they looking more for former officers as opposed to non-commisioned members (or does it matter?)

Not sure it matters.  That’s why talking with a recruiter and FA vets is worthwhile.  Basically, unless you are an officer with many connections (i.e. you’re going to open shop where you’ve been stationed for years), I don’t think there is any advantage to being an officer in this business.  I am not former military, so I don’t know if they tend to have a certain skill set not present with enlisted men. 

Thanks again…there is an essay, that states the difference between enlisted and officer has narrowed

A little caution here:  Not so sure I would say that you will end up making more money for the first few years “even if you end up not making it”  that isn’t necessarily so.  Let’s not paint too rosy of a picture here.  This is a tough business and if you aren’t able to find investable assets and close the sale you won’t make much money and you won’t make it at Jones.

I understand the risks of sales and having read a bunch of posts here I know it wont be a bed of roses. Right now EDJ is sending me quarterly reports until I req further action - I have a file number for ref - thats it as of now.



This is something I`m really thinking about, the good part for me is that when/if I retire I will have a pension - so I’ll have money. I would just have to work hard to make more - which I would be willing to do…

…I don’t know if this makes a difference, but I’m living in Edmonton, AB - so if there is anything else I should know about please advise…

…I don’t know if this makes a difference, but I’m living in Edmonton, AB - so if there is anything else I should know about please advise…

I wouldn’t worry much about the series seven at this point.  If you’re disciplined in studying and following directions you will likely pass.  They really hold your hand through it. 

…Thanks to everyone who responded! This is a good month for me, because I’m getting promoted and that help improves my pension before I retire…thanks again! Maybe I’ll move to Hawaii LOL

So I’m guessing as I read the forums that the first 3yrs are very important for an EJ FA, the contacts youu make hopefully turn into clients - so when commission takes over you have something to work with.



Are the majority of the new hire receiving a “Goodknight”?..I hope I phrased that right.



How do you prospect businesses - what is normally offered to potential bussiness owner clients? Is this where the presentations come in handy (I’m sure they would be full of pie charts and analytical graphs - maybe a few jokes)?



Is the training regimented like the military? Broken down into stages etc…



Thanks for your time guys!

Caveman,
I’m former military also, also enlisted.  I did 9 years in the Army, so I didn’t have a retirement package afterward.  As another poster noted, that will be an enormous benefit to you as you’re building your book of business.  At least you’ll be able to put food on the table during the slow months.
The Series 7 should pose no problem to you.  That’s the simplest part.  The challenge will come in building a business in the most challenging economic conditions in seventy years.  If you take the view that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take business from advisors and firms that have had one disaster after the next, you’ll do great.  Otherwise, you won’t.  The military is not the world’s premier meritocracy; the financial services business is.  If you work hard and are honest, you’ll be successful wherever you go.  If not, you won’t be, wherever you go.
Check out a lot of these message boards to see what feels right to you.  Go back in the forum history.  There’s a great cross-section of talent here, across all firms, and none of us are short of strong opinions as to what works, and we post accordingly.
Good luck.

Thanks Bodsurf! I’m reading forums and I agree there is a lot of strong opinions - and suggestions here. Thanks for the positive words!

I think Jones is a great place to build a financial services career.  I am not biased, because I never work at Jones.  It is just my observation having worked in the independent world with a lot of former Jones reps that started their career there.  I started my career at EF Hutton where they would typically only hire three generalized personality types.  1) Former military; if management said take the hill, you took it.  If they say knock on 100 doors a day or make 250 cold calls, you will.  2) Former school teachers; they know how to communicate and convey a message. 3) Former athletes; this is a tough, tough competitive business.  Athletes love competition and hate to lose.  Tell them they are in the botton half, and they will bust ass to make it to the top quintile.  The reality is four out of five people getting into this business will fail within the first few years.  At Jones, you will be working in an office by yourself, so you had better be motivated.  You better also pay attention to the principles of marketing, because this job in the beginning is alot more about sales and marketing than it is analyzing and consulting.

My payroll date with Jones is 2/2/09. After joining this forum I have had some light shed on the situation. It is apparant to me that it would be in my best interest to obtain a Goodknight or take over an office. My question is this: do I need to negotiate these things prior to my payroll date? My instinct says yes. However, I have never worked for Jones before so I do not know how they operate in real time. Any ideas would be appreciated.

I would go through the 7 training, KYC and the seven or eight weeks of training after that, all the while getting to know people in your region and looking for opportunities to get a GK. I think you’re prospects to get a good situation are heightened if do well in training and make a good impression. You will also have more leverage.

Matt, you can’t really negotiate much unless you are bringing over a book from another firm.  You will need to be sponsored by an existing FA, or otherwise prove that you deserve an open office before they would commit anything to you.

Matt, you can’t really negotiate much unless you are bringing over a book from another firm.  You will need to be sponsored by an existing FA, or otherwise prove that you deserve an open office before they would commit anything to you.