March 28, 2024

Edward Jones’ Allen honored for performance

Customer service is a key component to any job.

As a result of his exemplery customer service, Edward Jones Financial Adviser Mark Allen of Newton was rewarded for his job performance. For him, the honor was nice but was never on his mind because he was too busy helping customers.

“I really had not kept track,” Allen said. “It’s really like a quarterback, and someone walks up to him in the fourth quarter and says to him, ‘Do you realize that if you get one more 15-yard pass, you’ll break the NFL record?’ I can guarantee you that quarterback was not keeping that in mind.”

“The focus was serving the clients,” Allen added. “That is what this is really all about, plain and simple. It is doing what is right for the clients, serving the clients, making sure they’re happy and that they understand what is happening in the financial world. Edward Jones really is a fantastic place to work, and to have a career. J.D. Power and Associates just ranked us number one highest in investment satisfaction with full-service brokerage firms. Customer service is the name of the game.”

Because he was one of only 350 selected out of all Edward Jones advisors, it means he will attend a special three-day conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. Attendees will discuss strategies to maintain and improve their customer service skills.

“I’m very excited just to go and learn,” Allen said. “It’s really going to be a nice three-day meeting where I think they are going to focus on some of those changes, both with regulations and with what is happening in the world today. I am excited to go and learn. I am very excited and intrigued to go, and hopefully go and take a notebook full of notes and come back with valuable information.”

“I think it is going to be very interesting, just to be able to sit down with other financial advisers and the leadership team of our entire firm,” Allen said. “They will be there to get new ideas and new ways as to how we can better serve the clients.”

The financial sector is going through major changes in America, and clients are always looking for ways to save money, Allen explained. He rarely experiences any busy seasons because the work is mostly steady.

“I’m not so sure we’ve had a busy or a non-busy time,” Allen said. “We try to do our best. Our focus has always been that we need to be out and in-touch with our clients and new people. Anyone who has questions, whether they are our clients or not, can come into our office. We always try to make them comfortable as possible. We want to make sure that we answer questions, provide good service and give people the right information they need in a timely fashion.”

He has worked for Edward Jones for nine years, but before he worked in radio and television for 12 years.

He decided to move to Newton for his family. His wife’s parents live in Newton, and they both thought it best to move closer to them.

“I really do enjoy living in a smaller town,” Allen said. “Emily (his wife) and I decided we wanted to join up with the Edward Jones firm, primarily because of our family. We wanted our family to grow, and we wanted to do it in a place where we thought we could raise good kids, live in a great community, and be in a situation where we could be a big part in our kids’ lives. This firm is a strong believer in making sure you have enough time for your family.”

Staff writer Matthew Shepard may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 425, or at mshepard@newtondailynews.com.