Edward Jones Franchise Opens on West River Drive
There’s a new Edward Jones office on West River Drive in Comstock Park. Andrew Bok, financial advisor and Dawn Swafford, branch office administrator, moved to their new location in April (www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/andrew-bok)
With a desire to serve the Comstock Park area the pair looked for a West River Drive location, a search that took longer than expected until 4582 West River Drive became available. They painted and added new flooring to the 1,600-square-foot office.
Andrew and Dawn are excited to be in the area and have been busy meeting clients and communicating with community members. A lot of their clients are through word of mouth and referrals. They’ve been busy passing out business cards and even going door to door to get the word out about their business.
Andrew previously worked for another firm and Dawn has 23 years of experience with Edward Jones. Most of Edward Jones’ clients are at or near retirement age.
“We help long-term investors plan for retirement,” Andrew said. “What motivates me is the community contact and interactions with clients. I enjoy making a difference in their lives and helping with their financial needs.”
Dawn said being here in the community helps build close knit relationships. “You don’t have to go through ten prompts to reach someone,” Dawn said.
Edward Jones offers tailored strategies to a client’s wants and needs, not a cookie cutter approach. They partner with clients to create pathways to financial health through effective investments.
Navigating Market Changes
Andrew said he likes to develop the most efficient strategies including tax planning, while being mindful of the changing market. It’s necessary to have a plan in place and know when investors plan to take income.
No one can control the market and one of the biggest challenges is getting investors to think long-term and not fear a down market.
“It’s like a diving board. You’ve got to be able to stomach the ups and downs,” said Andrew, noting the three buckets of financial planning include stocks, bonds, and cash. He said investment decisions depend on a timeframe to retirement and risk tolerance.
“When can I retire is a huge question,” said Dawn about clients’ concerns.
Andrew said it’s rewarding to “see retirees feel comfortable about their financial future.” He enjoys making something complicated less complicated and helping clients make financial plans to navigate retirement.
Oftentimes clients come in with 15 different accounts – he helps clients organize their accounts with goals to grow, protect it and transfer funds.” Edward Jones also works closely to coordinate with a client’s tax and estate planning professionals.
Edward Jones is open from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Friday or by appointment. Appointments are recommended although walk-ins are welcome. Phone: (616) 988-6428