Empowering Local Businesses and Communities with Financial Access, Education, and Advice

Mike Hadley
Senior Director, Workplace Business Segment, Edward Jones

Published

December 04, 2025

At the recent Business Solves conference, I was deeply impacted by remarks from Chris Gardner, a leader and businessman best known for his book, "The Pursuit of Happyness." He offered up these words:

"When we close the gap, that gap becomes a bridge."

These words hit home because today, we face several gaps in the financial services industry.

Nearly one-third of Americans make their first investment through a workplace retirement plan—that was true for me at the beginning of my career.

Nearly 60% of employers still do not offer a retirement plan, even as more states add regulations to encourage businesses to put plans in place.

50,000 financial advisors will be needed in the industry over the next 5-6 years—forming major gaps at a critical entry point for investors.

At Edward Jones, we believe that gap can become a bridge if we work together to empower local business owners and their employees with financial access, education, and advice.

Access to Investing Starts in the Workplace

Local businesses are the backbone of our communities and our economy. They create two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. and employ nearly half of the private workforce. Yet, too many local businesses face barriers like regulatory complexity and administrative burden. Or they lack access to professional advice and resources, preventing them from providing critical workplace benefits.

Recently, my team at Edward Jones announced new technology investments supported by Edward Jones Ventures to lighten that administrative burden, provide accessible resources, and boost client confidence in solving complex problems more easily. For example, Aboon, a new, digital-first third-party administrator, simplifies what is an arduous process for businesses starting retirement plans. With this platform, business owners can design their plans in less than a day—instead of what typically takes weeks (or often months).

On the philanthropic side, we're committed to supporting local businesses and employees who may have previously faced challenges accessing capital to grow their business or save for retirement in the long-term. The Main Street Business Initiative provides grants to local businesses to support their growth and resilience. These grants can be used for a variety of needs including hiring staff, expanding reach, and handling unforeseen challenges.

Advancing Financial Wellness Through Education

With access to investing and financial wellness benefits, the workplace can (and should) be an accelerator to help more people feel confident on their path to financial fulfillment. But access alone isn’t enough; education is the key.

We recently announced our investment in Addition Wealth, a digital financial wellness platform offered alongside workplace retirement plans, that includes accessible and inclusive financial education. The platform integrates both expert human guidance and AI-powered personalization, putting digital tools and knowledge in the hands of investors.

Research shows that individuals who regularly work with a financial advisor are more likely to feel confident about reaching their goals. At Edward Jones, we believe the winning formula for helping our clients, colleagues, and communities achieve financial fulfillment is "AI + AI"—artificial intelligence paired with advisor intelligence.

Building Lasting Impact Through Relationships

John Bachmann, former Edward Jones managing partner and a former chairman of the board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, once told me: "The bet Edward Jones is making is that relationships matter."

In financial services, we're in the trust business, and the people business. With all the technological advancements, we can't lose sight of that. Our financial advisors are embedded in 68% of U.S. counties and most Canadian provinces, meaning we're meeting local business owners where they are, working side-by-side, and understanding the unique needs of their business and employees.

When local business owners feel confident about their financial futures, they invest, they hire, and they reinvest in their communities—creating opportunities that strengthen entire regions.

Looking Ahead: Turning Optimism into Opportunity

Today, local business owner confidence is at its highest level since 2017, despite challenges like inflation and a tight labor market. This optimism is a call to action for business leaders, policymakers, nonprofits and service providers to work together, remove barriers, embrace innovation, build trust, and ensure all working Americans can achieve a secure retirement.

By partnering for positive impact, we can turn gaps into bridges.