Edward Jones and 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Announce New Collaboration

Pilot program to provide financial education and career opportunities to
members

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The financial-services firm Edward
Jones and 100 Black Men of America, Inc., working in collaboration, are
pleased to announce a national program designed to raise the awareness of
career opportunities within Edward Jones, and to provide financial education
programming in communities where both organizations current have a presence.
The program will be piloted in five metropolitan cities: Atlanta, Chicago,
Dallas, Houston and St. Louis. Edward Jones financial advisors will conduct
financial educational seminars tailored to meet the interests of local
communities. Seminar topics include planning for college costs, keeping
informed about retirement savings options and working with youth to develop
effective money management habits and skills.
The collaboration also will enable Edward Jones and the 100 Black Men of
America to raise the level of awareness in various communities regarding
career opportunities as an Edward Jones financial advisor.
"Edward Jones and the 100 Black Men of America share the common goal of
creating and building relationships," said Edward Jones Managing Partner James
D. Weddle. "We do it through leadership, mentoring, education and economic
development in the communities we serve. Both organizations actively support
individuals and families in their quest to achieve financial security and
success by offering meaningful opportunities in the neighborhoods where they
live and work."
Edward Jones and the 100 Black Men of America are joining together to
further their common goals. Together, they will identify both potential
candidates for careers as Edward Jones financial advisors and those others who
may benefit from the Edward Jones business model in general.
"We want to pave the way for everyone -- regardless of race, ethnicity or
gender to take charge of their financial futures," said Price Woodward,
Principal of Financial Advisor Recruiting and Hiring at Edward Jones.
"Together with the 100 Black Men of America, we want to engage chapter
members, families and other participants across the country to get involved.
With over 10,000 financial advisors across the United States, we feel we are
uniquely positioned to help this organization deliver financial education to
youth, young adults and mature savers."
John B. Hammond III, CEO of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. says that the
collaboration is important because is allows the 100 to deliver on one of its
core strategic elements: economic empowerment.
"At 100 Black Men of America, we are not only interested in providing
educational resources to help facilitate a greater understanding of financial
options, we also are interested in providing real opportunities to positively
impact life outcomes among people in the communities we serve," Hammond said.
"This collaboration with Edward Jones represents one more opportunity for
the 100 and one of its key partners to put in front of the African-American
community a mechanism designed to help our people and subsequently our
communities achieve greater levels of financial security and success."
About Edward Jones
Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the
United States and, through its affiliates, in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Every aspect of the firm's business, from the types of investment options
offered to the location of branch offices, is designed to cater to individual
investors in the communities in which they live and work. The firm's 10,000-
plus financial advisors work directly with more than 7 million clients to
understand their personal goals - from college savings to retirement - and
create long-term investment strategies which emphasize a well-balanced
portfolio and a buy-and-hold strategy. Edward Jones embraces the importance of
building long-term, face-to-face relationships with clients, helping them to
understand and make sense of the investment options available today.
Edward Jones is headquartered in St. Louis, Mo. The firm's interactive Web
site is located at www.edwardjones.com.
About 100 Black Men of America, Inc.
The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. is an international organization with
106 Chapters and a membership of over 10,000. The 100 Black Men of America's
mission is to improve the quality of life of individual African-Americans and
their families through leadership, mentoring, education, health and wellness,
and economic development in the communities in which they live. In addition,
the organization is committed to the intellectual development of youth and the
economic empowerment of the African American community based on the following
precepts: respect for family, spirituality, justice, and integrity. The 100
Black Men of America's vision is to serve as a beacon of leadership by
utilizing their diverse talents to create environments where African-American
children are motivated to achieve and to become self-sufficient shareholders
in the economic and social fabric of their communities.
SOURCE Edward Jones

Lauren Carmody of Cubitt, Jacobs & Prosek Communication, +1-203-378-1152, for
Edward Jones