Fact Sheet

Edward Jones, headquartered in St. Louis, is one of the nation’s most convenient suppliers of financial services for individual investors. Edward Jones is one of the only firms to serve individual investors exclusively. The firm has nearly 7 million clients.

With nearly 12,000 offices in all 50 states, Edward Jones has more branch offices than any other brokerage firm in the country. In 1994, Edward Jones’ Canadian affiliate opened its first office and today has nearly 600 branch locations. In the spring of 1998, Edward Jones ventured into the United Kingdom, opening offices as Edward Jones Limited. In November 2009, the firm sold its U.K. operations.

The Edward Jones philosophy is that service to the individual is of utmost importance. Its more than 14,000 financial advisors provide this personal brand of service by discussing clients’ individual investment needs on a one-on-one basis. Having cultivated a previously untapped market of investors, Edward Jones financial advisors provide quality, long-term investment opportunities that include a broad mix of municipal, government and corporate bonds; mutual funds; common stocks; and tax-advantaged securities.

The firm was founded in 1922 by Edward D. Jones Sr. After working a rural territory in Missouri and Illinois, Ted Jones, the son of the founder, positioned the company in the increasingly competitive marketplace as a specialist in providing investment advice to individual investors.

In the 1970s, though, the firm realized that the appeal of Edward Jones was not based on geography. Rather, the firm appeals to a certain kind of investor anywhere. In the 1980s, the firm began expanding into metropolitan areas, starting with Chicago and Dallas. Edward Jones now conducts the majority of its business in urban and suburban markets.

Although the firm’s size has changed, its set of business principles retains the same focus. First, the firm serves just one client: the serious, long-term individual investor. Second, the firm’s investment philosophy emphasizes quality and a well-balanced portfolio. Lastly, it believes personal relationships are key. Thus, the Edward Jones brand appeals to a careful and considering kind of investor who prefers a long-term relationship with his or her financial services firm.

Growth has transformed Edward Jones from a regional firm with only 304 offices in 1980 to a North American presence of nearly 12,000 offices. To support this growth, the firm created a nationally recognized training program for its financial advisors. The firm continues to place these well-trained financial advisors in communities where they can serve the needs of individual investors.

Edward Jones financial advisors come from all walks of life – they are former engineers, attorneys, teachers, bank presidents, military officers and students. Although many of its offices are in rural communities, Edward Jones has developed a strong presence in metropolitan areas, including Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Kansas City and Seattle. Currently, 70% of Edward Jones’ offices are in metropolitan areas.

Jim Weddle, Managing Partner

Recent Press About Edward Jones