Edward Jones is a privately-held financial-services firm serving individual investors. This heartland brokerage is based in St. Louis and has 9,900 offices in the U.S. and nearly 1,000 outside the country.
This firm likes to say that it has just one type of client: the serious, long-term individual investor. Its tight-knit culture is focused on conservative values and building community, and its investment philosophy emphasizes quality and diversification.
Edward Jones financial advisers are their own bosses, operate their own branch offices and most are offered limited or general partnership. The company has ranked No. 1 on Registered Rep magazine's broker report card survey for 17 straight years. But advisers are not without their gripes. Some said that the firm's "buy quality, diversify and be patient," philosophy didn't serve clients well through the financial meltdown and technology services have been less than stellar, though they are reportedly improving. Football fan alert: The Edward Jones Dome is home to the NFL's St. Louis Rams.