Satellite broadcast helps investor educate clients
By Leigh Ann Maze
Broadcast live via satellite from the midwest, the Edward Jones investment office in Saratoga gave members of the public an opportunity to view part of the Winning Strategies for Women discussion series July 18. The event was free and open to the public, and was attended by four people, three of them women involved in business. The attendance may seem small, but it was a packed house for the small office, which can hold about five to seven people to watch the broadcast event.
Edward Jones is an international investment firm with a branch office in Saratoga that has only one investment representative, Glynis Wineinger. The office has been open at 12297 Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, Saratoga for about four years.
"We don't have a big crowd," Wineinger said of the educational program that provides a service for clients as well as bringing prospective customers to the office. "But I invite small business owners and others."
Seated in a room in the small office, those attending watched as Gail Buckner, senior vice president and senior marketing officer for Putnam Investments as well as a well-known national television anchor with CNBC, NBC and the FOX news channel, and Kate Warne, an Edward Jones analyst who follows the energy industry, discussed investing.
A discussion of safe versus risky investments included the caveat that a diversified portfolio is best. "Don't put all your eggs in one basket," Warne reminded her audience.
The discussion, which was entitled, "The Power of Investing: Creating Wealth Through Diligence and Know-How," focused specifically on women investors. It was the second part of a four part series on investment strategies for women. Other topics in the series include small business and legal issues for the Internet, how business owners can protect their assets and how to turn goals into growth and profit in the new economy.
"The focus of this particular educational series is the idea that women are a growing force to be dealt with not just in the investment sector but in the business sector as well," Wineinger said.
The broadcast was sponsored by the American Business Women's Association and Edward Jones.
Vanessa Hawkins, 24, an employee of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, was one of the people attending the broadcast. "Single women can't depend on a husband to provide for them," Hawkins said of why she was interested in learning how to invest, particularly in mutual funds.
Wineinger added that a lot of young women today often start investing their money soon after college.
Saratoga business owner Jean Orr, who also attended the event, said she was there to stay educated on investment topics and also because, "I am getting close to retirement," she said.
Wineinger said the Edward Jones office puts on free broadcasts about once a month. "Our whole philosophy is education," Wineinger said. "A big reason why women have not invested is that they never felt comfortable, they didn't know how to go about it, they weren't educated."
Broadcasts are offered monthly.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
