At a time when many U.S. businesses are experiencing zero growth or are actually downsizing, the financial services firm Edward Jones is aggressively expanding its sales force.

With healthy aggressive growth a substantial goal, the firm will host a career seminar and broadcast at 4 p.m. March 31 at the Edward Jones office in the Stein Mart Shopping Center on U.S. 15-501 in Southern Pines. To sign up, call 692-8628.

Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliates, in Canada and the United Kingdom. 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, a news release said.

The firm's 10,000-plus financial advisers work directly with more than 7 million clients to understand their personal goals -- from college savings to retirement -- and create long-term investment solutions that emphasize a well-balanced portfolio and a buy-and-hold strategy.

Edward Jones, which ranked No. 2 on FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For 2009," is headquartered in St. Louis.

Edward Jones financial advisers come from diverse backgrounds -- teachers, bankers and engineers.

The Edward Jones interactive Web site is located at www. edwardjones.com, and its recruiting Web site is www. careers.edwardjones.com.