Jones Guys
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SPIFF:“It’s also a little pathetic that so many of you continue to harp on the same old song and dance with the I hate Jones crap. Did you ever notice it’s a one way street? None of the Jones guys talk about how stupid you are for going indy, or for going from one firm to another.”
Spiff, I have changed careers and firms, and have have always left on good terms, as at Jones when I left. But NEVER have I seen such behavior: instead of wishing me well, visiting my new indy office, doing lunch, etc, the Jones guys (who I THOUGHT were close friends-went fishing and all that) treat me as a traitor. It is astonishing and unprecedented in my experience. Really pisses me off-- like suddenly I am unethical? There's your reason.I will say that when I left Jones, all the people that I new to be my friends stayed my friends. Those that I knew were only in it for themselves and didn’t give a shit while I was there, didn’t when I left and I was ok with that.
Don't let it piss you off, you did nothing wrong. It's their problem.See, it’s all context. My friend is getting ready to go indy (he can’t really make it in this business, but I don’t have the heart to tell him. He only does about 6K gross per month), and I have nothing but good wishes for the guy. And our “core” group of friends at Jones all feel the same way. He’ll still get invited to the informal parties, we’ll still call to talk, etc. In fact, I stay in touch with another guy across the state that left to go to a bank (he didn’t want to prospect - his words). I don’t get where some of these people come from (meaning the one’s that “ditch” their old comrades that leave the firm).
New, I don't doubt what you are saying is true. But chances are, those people are not really "friends" (geez, this sounds like a shrink session), they are just good acquaintances. I just can't justify blaming Jones for how a few FA's in your region treat you when you leave. That's more human nature.I think that it is definitely related to the culture. There is a group of us that are all indy now and we talk quite often but when i talk to those that are still at Jones it is difficult to talk about business as it often boils down to wow, I am glad I left…because I have virtually unlimited choices for my clients and Jones doesn’t trust you with those decisions. They have to make sure that you view those that left as either traitors or failures because otherwise you would consider it also…
Noggin - In my region I’ve never heard anything but well wishing for those who have left and gone indy or to other firms. We do chuckle about the fact that they continue to call us and to see if we want to come join them, just like any other recruiter. I’ve never heard anyone in my region say that those folks had to go indy because they were failures or that they are to be considered traitors.
New - I don't think it has anything to do with them thinking you are unethical since you went indy. My guess would be that they are so used to people coming and going at Jones that you're just one more in a long list of former Jones people. If they're like me they tend to get engrossed in their own world, which mostly includes other Jones folks, and have moved on to hanging out with other Jones people. It's just human nature, not a Jones specific thing. If you're expecting them to call you or stop by your office, I think you're fooling yourself.spiff,
I have Jones reps stopping by and calling frequently to pick my brain about the market and going independant. It does nothing to benefit my business by doing so...just being nice and keeping in touch.The contacts from EJ’ers picks up after you’ve been indy for a couple years and they realize that it must be working for you. Then they get curious. Also a tough market helps. People get frustrated with EJ especially in a tought market, when the bonus potential, etc. withers away or gets farther away.
newnew,
I kinda feel like this thread turned into a Dear Abby letter. maybe your just a lame dude and they never liked you in the first place. Maybe they were just being nice because you were in their region. Or maybe, just maybe, they're a bunch of lame ass kool aid pride guys that can only get by at jones by pretending its a brotherhood. Who knows,... maybe your just a lame dude though. Do what makes you happy, if you like being indy, congrats on the change, maybe some of those haters from your old region will wash out, go to banks, go indy, or retire and realize they were just being stupid about the whole situation.Hey newnew, congratulation on the change. When I left EJ last year those that were my friends still are. It takes a little more effort to stay in touch but we do. I have to admit we miss partying at the summer regional, but we try to find time for lunch at least.
Pick up the phone and schedule lunch. If they were ever your friends, they still will be. Funny though...I didn't get a Christmas card from my RL???You want revenge? You should crash another Summer Regional – there are so many new-news they won’t recognize you don’t belong – get drunk, make passes at all the wives, disrupt the workshops by asking to see the GP payouts and then jump on stage when the top producers are introduced and demand a silver tie clip for opening 10 accounts last year.
[quote=buyandhold]You want revenge? You should crash another Summer Regional – there are so many new-news they won’t recognize you don’t belong – get drunk, make passes at all the wives, disrupt the workshops by asking to see the GP payouts and then jump on stage when the top producers are introduced and demand a silver tie clip for opening 10 accounts last year.
[/quote]You’ll have to hurry the dreaded summer regional is being shortened!! The fall one has been cancelled…sound also most too good to be true!!
That sucks! The summer regional was the only vacation my wife and I could afford for the first couple of years.
[quote=monopolybet]You’ll have to hurry the dreaded summer regional is being shortened!! The fall one has been cancelled…sound also most too good to be true!!
[/quote] When I started, there wasn't a fall or spring meeting at all. When we did have one, it was only a short overnight trip. So, no big deal. I don't really need to hear about why we're recruiting 15 more people for our region anyway. It'll probably be back next year. Just so you don't get so excited that you make a mess in your pant(ie)s, thought you might like to know that Jones is still doing just fine. They're cutting back expenses, just like every other company out there. They're not laying anyone off. They're still adding new FAs. We're still going on diversification trips. We're still getting paid on our LP. We still got a good chunk of profit sharing added to our profit sharing plans last year. I find it funny, and a little sad in a pathetic sort of way, that you take such an interest and delight in such a small thing as the summer regional meeting change. The fact that you know and care about it in any way, shape, or form is, um, interesting. Or pathetic. Take your pick.[quote=monopolybet]You’ll have to hurry the dreaded summer regional is being shortened!! The fall one has been cancelled…sound also most too good to be true!!
[/quote] Lucky. I wish they'd cancel our fall regional.This has got to be the most idiotic thread ever started at this website. You people really manage money? Go get a girlfriend (or a dog). This is pathetic.