MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: JOHN PEACOCK
MEET JOHN PEACOCK OF FSDA CORPORATE MEMBER, EDWARD JONES.
We are speaking today with John Peacock of Edward Jones.
John, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I was raised outside of Philadelphia, PA. I attended college at Excelsior College and earned a BS in Liberal Arts. I joined the U.S. Navy out of high school and served 8 years in the Nuclear Power Program. I worked as a consultant to the Department of Energy before joining Edward Jones in 1995. I was working on my Nuclear Technology degree when I switched careers and joined Edward Jones.
Tell us a little about your career with Edward Jones.
I joined Edward Jones in 1995. I was a single parent with full custody of my 3 sons. I moved to Pensacola to open an Edward Jones office and didn’t know anyone in the area. The training and support provided by Edward Jones allowed me to build my practice and still have time to be a full-time father. Today I manage a successful branch and have a great team of 3 Branch Office Administrators.
What is a typical business day for you at your office in Pensacola?
We focus primarily on the holistic side of financial services. A typical day would be anywhere from 4-6 appointments with return and proactive phone calls in between appointments. My branch team schedules and prepares the information necessary for me to deliver a very focused client-centric experience for the client during the appointment.
I notice that you emphasize saving for college as part of your financial advice. What is the most important rule for grandparents, parents or students to remember in regard to saving for college?
Many of our clients want to provide financial assistance to children or grandchildren for their postsecondary educations. Since it is important that parents and grandparents first have enough assets to accomplish their goals and dreams, we try to make sure that college planning is part of the overall financial picture, rather than a primary objective.
Why is it important for Edward Jones to be a member of the FSDA?
It is important for Edward Jones to be an industry partner and have a voice at the table. We have a very effective Grassroots Task Force that focuses on lobbying Congress on behalf of our clients. The FSDA is a natural extension of this process at the state level.
I know that you are very involved with charitable organizations in Pensacola. Please tell us a little bit about your involvement.
Pensacola has been very good to me. Part of the Edward Jones philosophy is to get involved in the community in which you work and live. I have served on a vast majority of the non-profit boards in town and we sponsor a large amount of charitable functions. I lost a son 19 years ago and this year we will have the 18th Annual Panhandle Charitable Open in his memory. To date, this charitable golf outing has raised over $1.4 million for a variety of charities in the Pensacola area.
John, thanks for taking time to speak with us today.
