Edward Jones Has Hired 1,250 Veterans as Advisors

Veteran’s Day is more than just the one day a year at Edward Jones, where 11% of financial advisors have a military background.

In celebration of Veterans Day this year, the St. Louis-based firm announced it has hired more than 1,250 military veterans as financial advisors since May 2012 and is on track to meet the firm’s hiring objective of 500 veterans in 2014.

“Military veterans possess the necessary competencies and skill sets that align with, and greatly complement, those needed to be a successful financial advisor,” said Jim Weddle, managing partner of Edward Jones, in a statement.

The Department of Labor reports that only 4.5% of employed veterans are employed in the financial industry, and it is widely known that there is a significant need for quality long-term careers for veterans returning home from service.

The firm has an extensive history with hiring and mentoring veterans.

“Hiring veterans is ingrained in Edward Jones’ history, stemming from the tenets of our founder Edward D. Jones who served in the Navy in World War I,” Weddle added in a statement. “As a firm, we remain committed to offering rewarding, long-term careers for these veterans and are proud to call them Edward Jones employees and partners.”