Diversity @ EJ
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Why doesn't the most ethical firm on the street promote more of the following type of articles.... how diverse is the family of jeeps?
http://zzz.pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=18300
Gay networking group inspires LGBT success BY SHARON GITTLEMAN Originally printed 4/13/2006 (Issue 1415 - Between The Lines News)ROYAL OAK - Do you know what the man across the conference table thinks about gay people? Is the woman writing your home loan working against the LGBT community when 5 p.m. rolls around?
Thanks to Robert Lalicki and Reid Beyerlein, you won't have to ask those questions.
Last fall, the pair created "Ties Like Me!" - a networking group for gay and lesbian professionals.
"It's our opinion that people like to do business with people they know," said Beyerlein, a financial planner with Edward Jones in Lathrup Village. "To make our community stronger, we've got to try to drive business amongst ourselves."
On the third Wednesday of every month, Ties Like Me! sponsors a get-together to exchange business cards and build relationships.
The next meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., on April 19, at Cinq, located at 419 S. Main Street in Royal Oak.
There's no charge to come to the networking meetings.
Beyerlein said there's been a void in the LGBT community when it comes to hooking up with other gay businesses.
"If quality and price are the same, I will go with someone in our community," he said. "I think most people are the same."
Beyerlein said he hopes people will do more than just come to a meeting. Building future customers' trust comes from getting involved in the group and the community.
"When you build a relationship you know the business will come," he said.
At the networking meetings, you'll find everyone from corporate executives, caterers and attorneys to florists, landscapers and police officers - even priests and rabbis.
Individuals from Royal Oak, Troy, St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Ann Arbor, Flint and Lansing have come to the gatherings.
"Last month, we had 150 people," he said.
Meetings are restricted to members of the lesbian and gay community, said Lalicki, a home loan consultant for Flagstar Bank in Birmingham.
"You can find someone you trust that knows and understands our needs and lifestyle," he said. "At other business groups, you don't know if they're gay-friendly. You don't know their beliefs. Here, you can be sure we're all from the same community."
Lalicki said there's a tremendous need for groups such as Ties Like Me! - especially in light of Michigan's sagging economy.
"You have an audience of 150 people to get your business' name out," he said. "It won't be hit or miss."
Many LGBT-owned companies and gay workers would like to see their brothers and sisters succeed, he said.
"It goes beyond just the schmoozing," said Lalicki. "It's having a referral partner and a relationship with a person you know and trust and would feel comfortable giving a referral to."
Lalicki said he and Beyerlein have seen their own businesses grow since they formed the group.
"We know it's happening with other people if it's happening for us," he said.
Good thing there aren't any of "them" people at the other firms. Oh wait, looks like they're everywhere.
By the way, I seem to remember that this is one of a handful of posts on this topic by you - You know what they say about those that protest the loudest.
http://www.kamalsinha.com/morganstanley/curry-scandal/ (MS)
http://www.zonaeuropa.com/20050723_N.htm (ML)
http://www.vault.com/nr/main_article_detail.jsp?article_id=1 8607&ht_type=5 (GS)
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:FtwUAIrDMLMJ:www.thegsba .org/docs/newsletters/2001/1001.pdf+gay+%22smith+barney%22&a mp;hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=3 (SB)
http://notonlybutalso.typepad.com/notonlybutalso/2005/10/ubs _gets_gay_fr.html (UBS)
Guess I’m old fashioned, but why the heck do some folks feel the need to inject their sexual preferences into the workplace?!! PUT AWAY THE BILLBOARD AND JUST DO YOUR JOB!!! It’s no different than one of my competitors who feels the need to gain people’s trust by telling them he’s a Christian…and then selling some of the crappiest stuff on the market.
Do you know what the man across the conference table thinks about gay people? Is the woman writing your home loan working against the LGBT community when 5 p.m. rolls around?
Who gives a flying fig what they think about or do in their private lives!! Can they get my loan processed with the best interest rate? If they are handling my portfolio, are they going to make me money? If a person wants to wear a clown suit, bark like a seal and balance household objects on his nose, do it on your own time and don't tell me about it.
I DON'T CARE. I agree with Indy on this. Keep your personal and sexual preferences out of the work place and for that matter of fact keep your personal lifestyle out of my face no matter what it is, homo or hetero.
Interesting. I had the same thought regarding my concern for what the man accross the conference table thinks. But it was regarding what do they think about really well built women.
So I was starting my own networking group for men who like well built women. I think it is an important issue that deserves to be celebrated. I think it is important that men who think like me network and that we should be respected for our views and sexual preferences.
The name of my neworking group is going to be the 40d coffee club.
whoaa there!!
Before everyone gets their collective shorts in knots let me explain my reasoning for posting the article and link.
the firm in question is always bragging about them being the most diverse, ethical, best saleforce or whatever they think they can be "best at". It has absolutely nothing to with my personal preference but rather what the jeeps preach and what they practice.
Have a look at the make up of the jeeps and how homogeneous that group is.... just how "inclusive" (new buzzword for affirmative action) is that select group now know as jeeps??? Sure they are very inclusive at the lower end of the food chain but once we get to the department heads and RL jeeps it does change.
oh and newbie not that it's any of your business ... I'll leave you guessing.
I understood you angle, EJ…just took the opportunity to get on my soapbox a bit, even if it was getting off on a tangent.
[quote=Malcolm]
Interesting. I had the same thought regarding my concern for what the man accross the conference table thinks. But it was regarding what do they think about really well built women.
So I was starting my own networking group for men who like well built women. I think it is an important issue that deserves to be celebrated. I think it is important that men who think like me network and that we should be respected for our views and sexual preferences.
The name of my neworking group is going to be the 40d coffee club.
[/quote]Excellent idea! I suggest that the uniform of choice for all chapter meetings be thong bikinis!
[quote=joedabrkr] [quote=Malcolm]I think it is important that men who think like me network [/quote]
I suggest that the uniform of choice for all chapter meetings be thong bikinis!
[/quote]
YIKES!
Of course Joe for all female members that choice of attire would be celebrated and welcomed in our 40D Coffee Club. If that is what they wear as a symbol of who they are as a person then that would be just fine. Our club celebrates these types of things.
On my first diversification trip I sat next to a guy who was there with his "guy friend" He was as gay as the ace of spades and from the SF area. There I was with my PARENTS because I couldnt bring my girlfriend and I though well doesnt that beat all. Here was this guy with his gay lover and I couldnt bring my girlfrend. How ironic that the EDJ policy resulted in gays being able to bring their partners but us hetros we couldnt bring a girlfriend or boyfriend. Just another stupid EDJ holier-than-thou-policy.
Man, I dont miss that place. And by the way. I am a Norwegian-American. I am not an American. My ancestors were Vikings so you better not make fun of my fur hat with big horns on each side that I wear to the office because that is my heritage.
The way things are going in this country we are all going to be Mexican anyway though I guess so soon I will want to be called a Norwegian-Mexican-formerly-American.
[quote=eddjones654]
whoaa there!!
Before everyone gets their collective shorts in knots let me explain my reasoning for posting the article and link.
the firm in question is always bragging about them being the most diverse, ethical, best saleforce or whatever they think they can be "best at". It has absolutely nothing to with my personal preference but rather what the jeeps preach and what they practice.
Wow quit a reach to Jones bash on this one. Running out of stuff or just getting lazy?
Have a look at the make up of the jeeps and how homogeneous that group is.... just how "inclusive" (new buzzword for affirmative action) is that select group now know as jeeps??? Sure they are very inclusive at the lower end of the food chain but once we get to the department heads and RL jeeps it does change.
oh and newbie not that it's any of your business ... I'll leave you guessing.
[/quote]I don’t mind u guys knocking jones, it’s just a place of employment. I think that some of the folks on this site are more than obsessed. You left and you think jones is a joke, hypocritical, small potatoes, cheating, fill in the blank with whatever. I get it. I don’t care. You should lay off the latte’s or something.
[quote=Incredible Hulk]I don't mind u guys knocking jones, it's just a place of employment. I think that some of the folks on this site are more than obsessed. You left and you think jones is a joke, hypocritical, small potatoes, cheating, fill in the blank with whatever. I get it. I don't care. You should lay off the latte's or something. [/quote]
It's a place of employment? Really? My Regional Leader always told me that "I ran my own business." Maybe Hulk is starting to see the light.....
I guess I respond, because it’s an interesting forum. It’s quite comical to see some of the misperceptions especially from those who haven’t worked for jones. It’s also funny to hear how bitter some of the “ex-drones” are.
Sooth - As far as running my own business. I read in some industry mag that “our biggest complaint” (Jones brokers) is that we are paid like an employee, but treated as independent. I think that is as fair a statement as can be made.
“See the light…” isn’t there some line about a mushroom being fed bull and kept in the dark…
I read in some industry mag that "our biggest complaint" (Jones brokers) is that we are paid like an employee, but treated as independent.
No no no. You have it completely backwards. The biggest complaint is that you are told you are going to be running your own business like an independent, but you are treated like an employee. All the downside of the cost of running the office without the independence that was promised.
Sorry to disappoint Babs, I don’t have it backwards. You have said it more clearly than I did, but we were meaning the same thing. Although, aside from no-loads, wrap accounts, options and futures, I can pretty well sell whatever I want, so I’m not sure about the last part about not having independence.
Well that is a lot of exceptions. No wrap accounts, only loaded funds, no options, can't do puts or calls to collar a stock, can't buy just any ole stock you want for your clients if it goes against the Jones research.
Can you determine what insurance companies and annuities you would like to offer other than the small selection you get from Jones? Allianz, RBC, Prudential, Mutual of Omaha, Nationwide. How about health insurance and medicare sup plans?
Can you quote life insurance at anything other than endowment at age 100?
Can you offer GMAC bonds or any other short term low rated fixed income investments for those aggressive clients? Oh that's right everyone you have buys and holds to infinity.
Can you search all bond offerings on the secondary market or are you only able to offer the Jones inventory?
When you get a Freddie or Fannie offering, can you show your clients every note that is in the current offering or just the few that Jones thinks you should offer?
How easy is it for you to offer exchange traded funds or closed end mutual funds?
How about those Senior Floating Rate Loan funds? Still can't offer those?
Can you paint your office any color you want besides that atrocious green with the grey putty colored walls without getting permission from the big boys?
Can you hire your BOA part time instead of full time? Can you even determine what you want to pay your BOA and what benefits you offer her/him.
Can you decide that you don't want to pay for an antiquated satellite system and would rather use your own DSL line to download forms and send email documents to your clients.
If you can't do half of these things you are not independent. YET you get to pay for many of the day to day operational costs of running an independent office and get paid at 35% instead of the 80 to 100% that you would as a true independent.
If you like Jones, and there are many who do......fine. But don't try to compare it to an independent office practice. That is the BIG lie that makes most of us ex-Jonesers mad.
[quote=babbling looney]
Well that is a lot of exceptions. No wrap accounts, only loaded funds, no options, can’t do puts or calls to collar a stock, can’t buy just any ole stock you want for your clients if it goes against the Jones research.
Yes, it is a lot of exceptions. I can buy any stock over $1, so yes I can buy just about any ole’ stock.
Can you determine what insurance companies and annuities you would like to offer other than the small selection you get from Jones? Allianz, RBC, Prudential, Mutual of Omaha, Nationwide. How about health insurance and medicare sup plans?
I don’t care to offer health insurance or med sup - I’ll leave that to Mutual of Omaha.
Can you quote life insurance at anything other than endowment at age 100?
Guess not?
Can you offer GMAC bonds or any other short term low rated fixed income investments for those aggressive clients?Oh that’s right everyone you have buys and holds to infinity.
Can you search all bond offerings on the secondary market or are you only able to offer the Jones inventory?
I can call the bond desk and tell them what I’m looking for and they’ll find it.
When you get a Freddie or Fannie offering, can you show your clients every note that is in the current offering or just the few that Jones thinks you should offer?
Again, if I were looking for a particular maturity, I could call our bond desk and they’ll get it.
How easy is it for you to offer exchange traded funds or closed end mutual funds?
ETF’s and closed end mutual funds are traded like stocks, so again, I can sell any I like which makes it quite easy.
How about those Senior Floating Rate Loan funds? Still can’t offer those?
I don’t want to, but Hartford has one I could use if I did.
Can you paint your office any color you want besides that atrocious green with the grey putty colored walls without getting permission from the big boys?
I don’t care what color the walls are, I’m a guy.
Can you hire your BOA part time instead of full time? Can you even determine what you want to pay your BOA and what benefits you offer her/him.
Yes I can, you didn’t ask enough questions if these are the reasons you left. I can do all of those things, outside of the benefits.
Can you decide that you don’t want to pay for an antiquated satellite system and would rather use your own DSL line to download forms and send email documents to your clients.
T-1 is scheduled for my office next month. They tell me e-mail will be later this year. (Yes, they’ve been saying that for awhile on email)
If you can’t do half of these things you are not independent. YET you get to pay for many of the day to day operational costs of running an independent office and get paid at 35% instead of the 80 to 100% that you would as a true independent.
35%? Add in my profit sharing and bonuses - I’m in the low 40’s. After the expenses you have that I don’t, assuming you don’t work out of your home, I doubt you are at 80% payout. I have the Jones name, which contrary to what many of you think, goes a long way in my community.
If you like Jones, and there are many who do…fine. But don’t try to compare it to an independent office practice. That is the BIG lie that makes most of us ex-Jonesers mad.
[/quote]Again, I said “Jones pays us like employees, but treats us like Indy on some expenses” - In what way is that comparing myself to being independent. In fact, in another post, I said Jones is "no more than a place of employment."
And, as a matter of fact, I do like Jones, so can you just give it a rest? You’re glad you left, so I’m happy for you, but geez, you whine worse than my 2 year old.
I didn’t proof read, so no guarantees on the grammar, spelling etc.