Employer Profile

Own a piece of the pie at this financial services firm in St. Louis, one of the largest operating partnerships in America. The firm is owned by 10,000-plus limited partners and 330 general partners. More than a quarter of all employees -- from administrative assistants to top firm leaders -- own part of the firm. And unlike with most other partnerships, any employee in good standing with a minimum of three years of service can be considered for limited partnership. Each limited partner earned a 16% return on that 2008 investment, getting a check in early 2009. That's in addition to the 7.5% interest paid on their partnership capital. Good times and bad: The firm has managed to avoid layoffs, putting a focus on saving money without sacrificing jobs. It challenged employees to help it reduce net operating expenses in 2009 by $100 million from 2008 levels. Achieving that goal meant implementing a wage freeze, capping head-count growth in the home offices, limiting overtime, and delaying nonessential projects, travel and business expenses. Edward Jones also delayed, deferred or slowed some planned technology improvements in satellite dishes and new phones. Yet things are improving: The firm has lifted the wage freeze, and bonuses were restored as revenue rebounded. Profit-sharing and 401(k) matching never ceased.