The financial-services firm Edward Jones ranks highest in full-service investor satisfaction for the second consecutive year, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Full Service Investor Satisfaction Study (SM), the four Moore County Edward Jones investment representatives announced.

The J.D. Power and Associates study found that strong customer service representative performance, convenience, account set-up/offerings, account statements, and product and service offerings combined with competitive investment performance drive Edward Jones' first-place finish. Edward Jones does particularly well serving its more affluent clients, the survey found.

"As a firm, all of us are committed to providing outstanding client service," said James D. Weddle, managing partner of Edward Jones. "Our clients are the true judges of our service, and these surveys show that our clients think highly of the firm and their relationships with their local investment representatives and branch office administrators. Their satisfaction is reflected by the fact that they would recommend Edward Jones to their friends, as reported in the study results."

According to the study, satisfaction translates into advocacy, and Edward Jones clients recommend their investment representative more often than other firms, according to the survey.

Meeting face to face with one's investment professional is the best way to increase satisfaction, the survey found," Weddle said. "We treat our clients the way we would want to be treated, and we appreciate the honor that they bestow upon us."

Edward Jones ranked highest by J.D. Power and Associates in 2005, and highest in 2002, when the study began. Recently, Edward Jones in Canada announced the firm's highest ranking in J.D. Power and Associates' Canadian study.

The four Moore County Edward Jones investment representatives are: Craig Stokes at 692-8628, Greg Grimshaw at 235-9098, Eric Brooks at 947-5214, and Terry Estes at 692-3411.