Ann Toni Rowe recently graduated from a trainee position to that of branch office administrator at the Southern Pines office of the financial services firm Edward Jones.

Rowe has lived in Southern Pines for 40 years.

Craig Stokes, the firm's local financial adviser, said Rowe was promoted after successfully completing the firm's in-depth training program.

"For the past six months, Rowe has performed the duties of her job while also working to complete her training and testing requirements," Stokes says. "This is a well-deserved promotion."

Stokes says the title of branch office administrator (BOA) was adopted for this position at Edward Jones because of the wide range of responsibilities associated with the job.

"A BOA is not only responsible for the daily operation of the branch, but also must provide top-level client service and marketing support for office activities," says Stokes. "On a given day, Rowe's activities could include processing client trade transactions, providing clients with receipts for money and securities, and assisting in the planning of seminars and special events."

Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the U.S. and, through its affiliates, in Canada and the U.K.

Every aspect of the firm's business, from the types of investment options offered to the location of branch offices, is designed to cater to individual investors in the communities in which they live and work.

The firm's 10,000-plus financial advisers work directly with more than a million clients to understand their personal goals, from college savings to retirement, and create long-term strategies for their investments that emphasize a well-balanced portfolio and a buy-and-hold strategy.

Edward Jones embraces the importance of building long-term, face-to-face relationships with clients, helping them to understand and make sense of the investment options available today.