The coronavirus outbreak has led to significant market volatility and levels of uncertainty that we haven’t seen in quite some time. We want to assure you that we’re here, connected, and ready to navigate this together. We also wanted to share a message from our managing partner, Penny Pennington, with you.

At Edward Jones, our purpose has always been about making a difference in the lives of our clients, your families, our communities and for each other. It’s why we believe so deeply that personal relationships are essential in working together to help you achieve what’s most important to you.

We care about you and your family - your physical health and your financial health. Like you, we’ve been staying current on the latest news on coronavirus and how it’s impacting our neighbors and the financial markets.

First and foremost, we’re taking steps to reduce risks to your health and well-being and that of our associates. Some of these decisions include suspending meetings and visits in our branch offices and working with new and current clients virtually, as well as implementing work from home policies for our home office associates. If any of our associates become ill or need to care for loved ones, we have provided additional paid time off so they can keep themselves, their families and others safe.

And we’re here for you. We are part of our community, and we know you may need us. Your financial advisor and branch office administrator are available to answer your questions and support you.

You may have questions or concerns about the markets and how recent volatility is affecting progress toward your goals. It’s a normal reaction, and we understand. Your financial advisor is there to listen, provide perspective and help you focus on what you can control - your overall strategy, the quality of your investments, and remaining focused on why you were investing in the first place.

When possible, we’re encouraging our branch teams to use technology to work with you and stay connected, rather than meeting in person. We have several ways to do that, so, together you can decide what works best for your situation.

It’s about more than money. During times of uncertainty, a relationship with someone you trust is critical in helping you navigate the path forward. We’re glad to be in that kind of relationship with you. In the 98 years Edward Jones has been around, we’ve seen times that have challenged our nation, our neighbors and our economy. We’ve been here through all of those, and together, we will all be made stronger by this current challenge.

Please take care of yourself and your family. Help your neighbors and support your community - our communities. We remain committed to being available, and we’ll get through this together.

My best, Penny