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Jan 27, 2008 10:17 pm
Spaceman Spiff:

[quote=Sedona] EDJ is behind many firms (AGE and ML have had it for a while) but I’m sure you’re not the last. It amazes me the low self esteem EDJ reps have. Your firm is not perfect (neither is any other) but you have a lot going for you. 

  You are right.  Jones isn't perfect, but it's a heck of a lot better than a lot of places out there.    Question though.  Where do you get the impression that EDJ reps have low self esteem?  [/quote]

Most posts mentioning EDJ comes as a joke/complaint/or self excusing for being there. I never worked there, and I get all the jokes about cold walking, but if these EDJ reps are unhappy, they should vote with their feet (no pun intended) and leave. Lot's of regionals would love their business, maybe even the RIAs if you got your 65/66.

But if you're in and unhappy, seem to want to leave but can't... it would seem like a cult-like situation.


Jan 28, 2008 3:56 am

Not to sound so much like ‘just another smug indy guy’…but I am amazed that you folks in employee model concerns aren’t at least considering how a paperless system makes it consderably harder for you to leave and take your clients, and easier for your employer to “play defense” and keep them.

Hey-don’t get me wrong.  In the end if you take good care of your clients, I think they’ll follow you anyway…

Jan 28, 2008 2:25 pm

I agree Joe.  Reminds me of a familiar, oft-repeated adage in other climes: “Start with the end in mind.”


Jan 28, 2008 3:46 pm
Sedona:

[quote=Spaceman Spiff][quote=Sedona] EDJ is behind many firms (AGE and ML have had it for a while) but I’m sure you’re not the last. It amazes me the low self esteem EDJ reps have. Your firm is not perfect (neither is any other) but you have a lot going for you. 

  You are right.  Jones isn't perfect, but it's a heck of a lot better than a lot of places out there.    Question though.  Where do you get the impression that EDJ reps have low self esteem?  [/quote]

Most posts mentioning EDJ comes as a joke/complaint/or self excusing for being there. I never worked there, and I get all the jokes about cold walking, but if these EDJ reps are unhappy, they should vote with their feet (no pun intended) and leave. Lot's of regionals would love their business, maybe even the RIAs if you got your 65/66.

But if you're in and unhappy, seem to want to leave but can't... it would seem like a cult-like situation.


[/quote]   Don't base your knowledge of EDJ reps by what you read on here.  Most of the time when you read that somebody's feet hurt (cough...cough...spears...cough...cough) or that they're tired of doorknocking, they're new FAs.  Doorknocking is tiring.  I'd guess that cold calling is monotonous.  I'd guess that newbies at any firm get tired of the way their firm suggests they build their book, and are going to find some venue to complain about it.  Overall, I'd say that EDJ FAs are a very upbeat group.  After all, we are the best darn sales force in the world and the #1 place to work in Texas.    Now, back to the imaging system.  I don't think that the IT people understand that it would be more difficult to leave Jones if we didn't have any paper files.  I think they are looking for ways to make their lives and ours a little simpler.  Once the bugs get worked out of the system we'll save time and ultimately money on all the paper and 800 number bills for the hundreds of fax machines Jones owns.  And I won't have a stack of paper that needs sorted sitting on my desk all the time.  If I were ever going to leave Jones, I'd make sure that I made physical copies of everything I wanted to take with me in regards to client accounts.  So, no worries about that for me.    
Jan 28, 2008 4:15 pm
Spaceman Spiff:

[quote=Sedona] [quote=Spaceman Spiff][quote=Sedona] EDJ is behind many firms (AGE and ML have had it for a while) but I’m sure you’re not the last. It amazes me the low self esteem EDJ reps have. Your firm is not perfect (neither is any other) but you have a lot going for you. 

  You are right.  Jones isn't perfect, but it's a heck of a lot better than a lot of places out there.    Question though.  Where do you get the impression that EDJ reps have low self esteem?  [/quote]

Most posts mentioning EDJ comes as a joke/complaint/or self excusing for being there. I never worked there, and I get all the jokes about cold walking, but if these EDJ reps are unhappy, they should vote with their feet (no pun intended) and leave. Lot's of regionals would love their business, maybe even the RIAs if you got your 65/66.

But if you're in and unhappy, seem to want to leave but can't... it would seem like a cult-like situation.


[/quote]   Don't base your knowledge of EDJ reps by what you read on here.  Most of the time when you read that somebody's feet hurt (cough...cough...spears...cough...cough) or that they're tired of doorknocking, they're new FAs.  Doorknocking is tiring.  I'd guess that cold calling is monotonous.  I'd guess that newbies at any firm get tired of the way their firm suggests they build their book, and are going to find some venue to complain about it.  Overall, I'd say that EDJ FAs are a very upbeat group.  After all, we are the best darn sales force in the world and the #1 place to work in Texas.    Now, back to the imaging system.  I don't think that the IT people understand that it would be more difficult to leave Jones if we didn't have any paper files.  I think they are looking for ways to make their lives and ours a little simpler.  Once the bugs get worked out of the system we'll save time and ultimately money on all the paper and 800 number bills for the hundreds of fax machines Jones owns.  And I won't have a stack of paper that needs sorted sitting on my desk all the time.  If I were ever going to leave Jones, I'd make sure that I made physical copies of everything I wanted to take with me in regards to client accounts.  So, no worries about that for me.   [/quote]   Agreed.  When a firm is looking at spending that much time & money on technology, I don't think it's to keep guys from easily moving their books.  They do plenty of other things to prevent that (as do all B/D's).  Someone that wants to move their book will just move it.  Having electronic files won't really stop them.  If you plan in advance, you can get everything copied that you need.  And I would say 90%+ of Jones FA's are not actively planning to leave, so they would be building the proverbial church for Easter Sunday. The truth is, Jones really is trying to improve their technology dramatically.  It's funny, people on this board all say that they or their firms are already using this technology, but then when Jones starts using it, it must be for some underhanded, devious reason. 
Jan 28, 2008 6:35 pm

Its just another reason to justify the $1300 per month for the communication fees. Ignorance is Bliss

Jan 28, 2008 7:50 pm

As opposed to the money the indy guys pay for their computers, internet access, software, etc.  I know, I know.  You guys come out WAAAY ahead of $1300 per month.  But, I have to do zero thinking about my computer system, programs, etc.  It’s a tradeoff. 

  B24 - Haven't you figured it out by now?  EVERYTHING that the GPs decide to do is to either put more money in their pocket or make it more difficult for us to leave when we want.  Those new FAST tools are just there to give the next guy in your office more ammo to keep your clients.  The new imaging system is there so you will image docs and then shred it, thereby destroying the last phyiscal copy of your clients 401k statements.  The new mutual fund wrap account is going to be designed to suck in your clients and never let them go, all the while those evil GPs are going to start fleecing those same clients with high wrap account fees.  And don't even think about leaving.  The super secret Jones police are stationed outside your door right now.  See, they've been monitoring your web activity and noticed that you spend some time on this site.  It's a known hangout for anyone at Jones who wants to go indy soon.  So, they've got your place, and mine, staked out ready for us when we leave.       
Jan 28, 2008 8:09 pm

If I was still at Jones today, I would would be careful of being to simple--it could come back to bite you when and if you leave, and you are right Spiff most people would stay (90%) but some will leave for one reason or another...but for that 10% it makes all the difference in the world if you plan far in advance--gather strategic info--and don't give em a clue you are leaving.

Jan 28, 2008 8:40 pm

One other thing that came to mind as I was reading…if the imaging system is (as ours is) based on Adobe Acrobat, it shouldn’t be hard to save a copy of the image to your computer for recall later.

Jan 28, 2008 8:54 pm

It’s also server based, so there’s no way for us to save anything to any personal files.  Nice thought though. 

Jan 28, 2008 8:54 pm
outofjail:

Its just another reason to justify the $1300 per month for the communication fees. Ignorance is Bliss

  Not really.  I hate that charge.  Personally, I don't understand the AMOUNT.  I realize we have to be charged something, but c'mon.  It seems like they pretty much charge the entire IT division out to the field.
Jan 28, 2008 8:58 pm
Spaceman Spiff:

It’s also server based, so there’s no way for us to save anything to any personal files.  Nice thought though. 

  Actually, not true.  They are saved, and open as PDF files.  You can open them and save them to your hard drive.
Jan 28, 2008 10:47 pm

You are technically correct.  However, once saved to the HDD there's not much besides opening it that can be done.  You can't burn a disc on our systems.  At least I don't think you can.  So, even if it's on the HDD, it's still stuck in the Jones system. 

Jan 29, 2008 12:53 am

Spiff, if your computer has a USB slot, then you could always transfer files to a Jump Drive, microdrive, portable USB drive or even an MP3 player.  Assuming that works, you can thank me later for helping you plot your ultimate escape…

Jan 29, 2008 1:18 am
Indyone:

Spiff, if your computer has a USB slot, then you could always transfer files to a Jump Drive, microdrive, portable USB drive or even an MP3 player. Assuming that works, you can thank me later for helping you plot your ultimate escape…



Actually.......no. I tried doing that a few weeks ago to move a seminar file onto my laptop, and low and behold, the option to save to alternate disk drives is disabled (confirmed by IT dept). I guess they are technically protecting "their" systems. However, I was able to e-mail it to myself and save on my laptop. Worst case, you could just print them out.
Jan 29, 2008 1:31 am

Jan 29, 2008 4:14 am
Broker24:

[quote=Indyone] Spiff, if your computer has a USB slot, then you could always transfer files to a Jump Drive, microdrive, portable USB drive or even an MP3 player.  Assuming that works, you can thank me later for helping you plot your ultimate escape…[/quote]

Actually…no. I tried doing that a few weeks ago to move a seminar file onto my laptop, and low and behold, the option to save to alternate disk drives is disabled (confirmed by IT dept). I guess they are technically protecting “their” systems. However, I was able to e-mail it to myself and save on my laptop. Worst case, you could just print them out.

  I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I am...a little...