Ranked no. 17 by Training APEX 2025
News release | Feb. 19, 2025
Edward Jones Recognized for Excellence in Training and Development
Honored as a 2025 Training APEX Award Winner
St. Louis, Wed., Feb. 19, 2025 — Edward Jones has been named a 2025 Training APEX Award winner, marking the firm’s commitment to learning and professional development. This award, presented by Training magazine, honors organizations that create effective training programs that support associates and the clients they serve. Edward Jones ranked no. 17 on the APEX awards, a long-standing recognition of best practices in learning and professional development.
“Our learning and development approach is focused on fully supporting our colleagues with the tools and resources they need to help them grow as individuals and ultimately serve our clients more completely," said Suzan McDaniel, chief human resources officer at Edward Jones. “We focus on strengthening our culture as continuous learners by providing a diverse set of opportunities for our associates to grow their individual skills, learn and train in large group settings, and enhance how they lead through mentorship. This recognition reflects the work we’ve done to expand learning opportunities, integrate technology and ensure our teams are equipped to support clients in meaningful ways.”
Edward Jones cemented its reputation as a leader in learning and development by combining innovation with practical, results-driven strategies. From leveraging technology to fostering a culture of collaboration, the firm’s training programs are designed to prepare associates for the future as it evolves.
In 2024, Edward Jones introduced and expanded several initiatives to foster learning throughout the firm:
- Day of Development – This firmwide event brought together nearly 3,000 associates for skill building sessions on leadership, technical training and professional growth.
- Trimester Challenge – Expanded in 2024 to include registered branch associates and associate financial advisors, this program offers continuous education and professional activities aligned with branch goals. Through collaborative peer-assisted learning (PAL) components and social learning opportunities, the Challenge supported more than 15,000 Client Support Team (CST) professionals, enhancing skills and the adoption of Salesforce tools.
- Industry Certifications – We are committed to growing the number of professionals with the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® or CFP® certification and have been recognized as No. 1 in the industry for most CFP® professionals, with more than 4,500 associates in the U.S. field and home office as of Dec. 31, 2024. Our commitment is demonstrated by offering tuition assistance and reimbursement and two free practice exams in collaboration with the CFP® Board. The firm also supports the Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™ or FPQP® designation to help CSTs build/expand their foundational knowledge.
- Universal JonesStart – This onboarding program brought together branch and home office associates to enhance collaboration, bridge gaps in roles and reinforce a shared understanding of the firm’s vision.
Edward Jones continues adjusting its learning approach as technology evolves, blending in-person, virtual and technology-supported training programs. These initiatives, including leadership development workshops and compliance education, ensure associates receive the technical knowledge and leadership development needed to achieve our purpose of improving the lives of clients, colleagues and communities.
The Training APEX award evaluation process considers the success of a company’s overall training approach. Award criteria include training program and scope, budget, formal and informal training programs, the link to business/business unit goals, and business outcomes resulting from training.
Company rankings for the Training APEX award were announced Feb. 17 at an awards gala during the Training 2025 Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida.
About Edward Jones
Edward Jones is a leading North American financial services firm in the U.S. and through its affiliate in Canada. The firm’s more than 20,000 financial advisors throughout North America serve more than 9 million clients with a total of $2.2 trillion in client assets under care as of December 31, 2024. Edward Jones' purpose is to partner for positive impact to improve the lives of its clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. Through the dedication of the firm's approximately 55,000 associates and our branch presence in 68% of U.S. counties and most Canadian provinces and territories, the firm is committed to helping more people achieve financially what is most important to them. The Edward Jones website is at www.edwardjones.com, and its recruiting website is www.careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.
Disclosures: 2025 Training Magazine APEX Awards, published February 2025, data as of September 2024. An application fee was required for consideration.