Ozarks Profile: Charles Ladd Jr.

What is your job?

Charles Ladd Jr. is an investment representative for Edward Jones. He defines his job as "Helping individual investors make the right choices with investments, insurance and estate planning, working one-on-one to help people achieve financial security and fund their dreams."

Tell us about your company.

"Edward Jones is one of the nation's largest and strongest investment firms, with a personalized approach to doing business," Ladd said. "For more than 124 years we've built our business working one-on-one with individuals as they pursue their personal financial goals."

What prepared you for work as an investment representative?

"Life," Ladd answered. Specifically, he graduated in from Southwest Missouri State University with a degree in communications. He also served with the U.S. Marine Corps and saw duty in the Persian Gulf War as a machinegunner, an experience that he says "prepared me for reality." After leaving the Marines, he sold Alltel phone services for 7 1/2 years, then joined Edward Jones two years ago. "The same issues that I face as a husband, father, business professional, veteran and member of a church are the same issues that face my clients," he said. "Edward Jones has the number one training for our industry. That helped with the technical side of my business."

What's the best part of your job?

"People!" Ladd said. "I love my clients. It's so rewarding knowing that the choices I help people make will greatly impact them for the rest of their lives. Personal service is my number one priority. It's all about knowing what to do with your money."

Can you tell us something about your family and personal life?

Ladd said he has "a great balance" in his personal life and work. He and wife Ronda have three daughters, Autumn, 12, Alexia, 7, and Addison, 5. Ronda Ladd ran in a San Diego Marathon last summer and plans to run in the Chicago Marathon in October. Daughter Autumn "loves the Lady Bears," Ladd said. "She was a ball girl for them the last couple of years. Alexia is very arts-oriented, theatrical, creative, and imaginative. Addison's a great, great child. She does gymnastics. She likes the trampoline."

How do you like to spend your leisure time?

"Family fellowship is the best," Ladd said. "Family is the reason we live, not an interruption of our business day. Visiting with other families for dinner with their kids or playing golf while the kids play together is very relaxing. Church is a great place to fellowship, meet new people, and praise the Lord for all he has blessed our family with. I also enjoy exercise. I run three or four times a week with a friend and like to stay fit. Must be a habit left over from my days in the U.S. Marines."

by Frank Shipe