For new financial advisors, it sometimes takes a few years of struggling to really launch their careers.
At Edward Jones, Rodney Gee’s job is to make sure these new advisors, especially those who are minorities and women, get the resources they need to succeed.
“We really work with our diverse financial advisors, so they can make a difference in their clients’ lives,” said Gee, a principal for financial advisor diversity performance for Edward Jones.
“My responsibility is to help guide the firm to provide that additional support that they need, whether it’s coaching and mentoring or building different skills. And that’s fun work.”
Gee leads 240 teams nationwide who support 13,000 financial advisors in this effort.
Gee will receive the St. Louis American Foundation’s 2013 Corporate Executive of the Year Award at the Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon, to be held Thursday, November 14 at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton. The networking reception begins at 11 a.m. and the luncheon program starts at noon.
At Edwards Jones, Gee is helping to grow the firm’s diverse and women financial advisors. When asked why diversity and inclusion is important to Edward Jones, Gee gets right to the point.
“A lot of folks will give you a passé answer or an en vogue response,” he said. “I’m not going to give you that. The real opportunity is: We want to serve more clients.”
Gee cites a recent survey, where people were asked if they understood how bonds or stocks work. Only about 30 percent said they did, he said.
“We think there are an unlimited amount of potential customers out there who don’t understand finances and who are not prepared for the future,” he said.
“We need everyone at the table. That’s why diversity is important. It ultimately means we take care of more clients, and we make a difference in their lives.”
Currently, six percent of Edward Jones’ advisors are people of color, compared to four percent last year and two percent industry-wide, he said. About 18 percent are women, compared to 16 percent industry-wide.
“The opportunity is to continue growing,” he said. “Is it hard? You bet. If it were easy, everyone would have great numbers and be telling you great stories. But it’s hard to start in the financial advisor industry.”
Most importantly, the advisors have to genuinely want to make a difference in people’s lives, he said.
Throughout his upbringing, Gee’s parents and community instilled a desire in him to help others, he said. He grew up in the Penrose neighborhood of North St. Louis, and his family eventually moved to North St. Louis County, where he attended McCluer North High School.
“I think what’s unique about my childhood is that it was shaped by two loving parents, who both were working folks with a strong work ethic,” he said. “I remember my dad making contributions by being involved at the church and with the Boy Scouts.”
When Gee graduated from Central Missouri University in 1981, he said, he stepped into an economy that “was truly a recession” versus what the nation experienced most recently.
Despite the difficult market, he was able to land a job in sales at Southwestern Bell. He transitioned to Motorola as an account executive and continued to move up the ladder – with promotions taking him to offices in Chicago and Austin, Texas.
After working with Motorola for 15 years, he was recruited to Monsanto, where he served as director of staffing and a director of human resources. After two and a half years there, he was tapped by Edward Jones. In 2002 he was named partner, and he’s now been with the firm for 13 years.
“If anyone wants to reach their goals and dreams, this is a great place to do that,” he said of Edward Jones.
“I love giving back and mentoring others. I’m hoping that through my actions, others will pick up the mantle and run with it and make a difference in the community. You have to make a difference, no matter how small.”
Gee serves as the president of the St. Louis Community College Foundation, which raises funds to help students with scholarships and other resources.
“Those funds go directly toward student achievement,” he said. “It could be helping a single mom who doesn’t have a car to buy a bus pass so she can get to class.”
Gee also serves on the boards of Employment Connection, which helps veterans get back to work, and Rx Outreach, which helps people obtain prescription medications if they don’t have the means.
“If we don’t all grow, we will end up with the haves and the have-nots,” he said. “And that’s not good for anyone.”
The 14th Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon will be held Thursday, November 14, 2013 at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, networking reception at 11 am, luncheon program at noon. Tickets are $100 for VIP/Preferred seating, $75 for general admission. Call 314-533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com for more information or to purchase tickets.
