Edward Jones is a full-service investment firm and one of the most recognizable names in its industry. Providing a wide range of investment advisory services, brokerage services and other products in the U.S. and through its affiliate in Canada, Edward Jones is a one-stop shop for those looking for personalized guidance and face-to-face interaction.
Its more than 21,000 advisors serve millions of clients with a total of nearly $700 billion in client assets under management. Based in St. Louis, the firm has a wide footprint across the country and aims to help its clients achieve what is most important to them financially. While the firm's fees may seem steep when compared to several discount brokers or robo-advisors on the market today, some may find the wide range of services and personalized approach of their financial advisors worth the money.
Edward Jones Background
Founded in 1922 in downtown St. Louis, Edward Jones has grown from a single office into a nationwide, full-service brokerage firm with branches all across the U.S., as well as in Canada.
Founded by Edward D. Jones himself, the firm has seen six different managing partners, including the current managing partner, Penny Pennington.
Edward Jones Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes
Edward Jones manages assets for individuals with and without a high net worth, as well as pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations and other partnerships, investment clubs and limited liability companies.
The minimum account size will depend on the type of advisory program you open an account through. For instance, the Guided Solutions Flex Account has a minimum of $25,000. Meanwhile, there is no minimum asset requirements for the firm's Point in Time Financial Planning Service, which includes at least one consultation with a financial advisor and the creation of a personalized financial plan.
Edward Jones Account Options
As a full-service firm, Edward Jones has a wide variety of options when it comes to accounts. You can have a regular taxable brokerage account, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), custodial account, college savings account and more.
If you’re interested in wealth management services, Edward Jones has several main options:
- Advisory Solutions Fund Models: A wrap fee program where clients invest in a diversified portfolio of mutual funds and ETFs, managed according to their chosen risk tolerance and investment objectives.
- Advisory Solutions Unified Managed Account (UMA): This wrap fee program combines multiple investment strategies within a single advisory account, offering access to separately managed accounts (SMAs), ETFs and mutual funds managed by affiliated or unaffiliated managers.
- Guided Solutions Flex Account: A client-directed advisory account where clients maintain control over final trade decisions, while receiving ongoing investment guidance from an Edward Jones financial advisor on a wide range of investments.
- Guided Solutions Fund Account: Similar to the Flex Account, this advisory program involves continuous advice but focuses specifically on investments in mutual funds and ETFs.
- SMA Model Portfolios: Managed portfolios that consist of equities and ETFs, available within the UMA program. Edward Jones manages these portfolios, offering non-discretionary services where clients receive structured, predefined strategies.
- Financial Advisor Managed Solutions: A discretionary account where the financial advisor makes investment decisions on behalf of the client, providing active management across various asset classes such as stocks, bonds and ETFs?.
Edward Jones Investment Philosophy
With a variety of account types and service offerings, the firm's investment philosophy may depend on the type of strategy a client choose. However, the firm typically investments using a buy-and-hold philosophy, prioritizing reliable, long-term growth over short-term plays.
Fees Under Edward Jones
The fees you pay will depend on the type of program you choose and the products you purchase. When using investment advisory services like the Guided Solutions and Advisory Solutions programs, your fee rate will be based on the value of the assets in your account, as well as the program you select and the unique fee structure for the given program. The higher the asset value of your account, the lower the fee percentage. For up-to-date overviews of Edward Jones' fee structures, you can visit the firm's website.
| Fees for the Guided Solutions Flex and Advisory Solutions Programs | |
| Value of Assets in Account | Annual Fee Rate |
| First $250,000 | 1.35% |
| Next $250,000 | 1.30% |
| Next $500,000 | 1.20% |
| Next $1,500,000 | 1.00% |
| Next $2,500,000 | 0.80% |
| Next $5,000,000 | 0.60% |
| Over $10,000,000 | 0.50% |
In addition to the above fees, clients using the Advisory Solutions Program may also be charged a portfolio strategy fee and/or an SMA manager fee. Below is a breakdown of the portfolio strategy fee for the Advisory Solutions Program:
| Fees for the Advisory Solutions Funds Program and UMA Models | ||
| Value of Assets in Account | Program Fee | Platform Fee |
| First $250,000 | 1.35% | 0.05% |
| Next $250,000 | 1.30% | 0.05% |
| Next $500,000 | 1.20% | 0.04% |
| Next $1,500,000 | 1.00% | 0.03% |
| Next $2,500,000 | 0.80% | 0.02% |
| Next $5,000,000 | 0.60% | 0.01% |
| Over $10,000,000 | 0.50% | 0.00% |
Edward Jones account holders may also be subject to SMA manager fees.
Awards and Recognitions
Edward Jones has been named to Fortune Magazine's 2023 list of the World's Most Admired Companies, a recognition of the most respected and reputable companies.
(2024 Fortune World's Most Admired Companies list, published January 2024, in partnership with Korn Ferry, data as of November 2023. Compensation provided by Edward Jones for using, not obtaining, the rating.)
What to Watch Out for
Edward Jones has multiple disclosures reported on its Form ADV. In 2024, Edward Jones paid a $50 million civil penalty to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as part of a settlement after it was alleged that the firm violated recordkeeping provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 "in connection with the retention of electronic communications stored on personal devices or messaging platforms" that were not approved for business use by employees.
If you have a brokerage account with Edward Jones and your portfolio includes mutual funds, Edward Jones likely is receiving revenue sharing for those products and therefore has a conflict of interest.
Opening an Account With Edward Jones
To open an account, you can visit the Edward Jones website to find an advisor close to you and schedule an appointment. At the first appointment, your advisor will ask you a series of questions to determine what’s most important to you in your investing. From there, your advisor will develop a tailored strategy that takes into account your risk tolerance and your investing goals.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.
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