Ozarks Profile - Sherry Jacquin

What is your job?

Sherry Jacquin is an investment broker with Calton & Associates Inc., 3049 S. Fremont Ave. "I research and advise people on various types of investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options and annuities," she said.

Please tell us about your company.

"We became a Calton branch office in 1997," Jacquin said, adding that Calton & Associates Inc., founded in 1987, is a full-service securities broker/dealer based in Tampa, Fla. The company is privately held, employee-owned and has 27 branches nationwide with more than 160 representatives.

What prepared you for work in your business?

"A passionate interest in stocks and investing," Jacquin said. "I also taught business classes at a two-year vocational school for 14 years." She attributes her ability to help people better understand investing to having "a lot of practice explaining things in different ways, while teaching."

How have the events of Sept. 11 affected investors, and your field?

Jacquin said that since Sept. 11 more people have been buying and interested in buying. "Of course, we're all nervous about the effects of the war on terrorism, but if you believe that America will prevail and continue to be a strong, leading country, then this is a good time to buy for the long-term."

What trends, if any, do you see in your field?

"The future for the market is as uncertain as it has always been," Jacquin said. "My opinion about investing is comparable to planting a garden: First, start early. You can't plant a garden in midsummer and expect a good harvest before frost. Second, buy quality. Good seeds produce good plants. Third, diversify, plant a variety. ... Fourth, cultivate. Pay attention. Just like weather, pests or animals can hurt your garden or other times you get a bumper crop. The same is true of the market. It's really about cycles. ... Over the long term, buying quality and diversifying should give you a nice return."

What's the best part of your job?

"Getting to know my clients and visiting with them," Jacquin said. "What I like the most is when people are excited about a particular investment and it does well for them. My job, of course, is much more fun when the market goes up."

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

"I am very proud of my children," Jacquin said. "My son Todd is a network administrator with the Missouri Department of Conservation in Columbia and makes sure my home computer is always working and up-to-date. My daughter Jodie is a receptionist at a veterinary clinic and is studying to be a veterinary assistant."

How do you like to spend your leisure time?

Jacquin enjoys spending time with her children and her parents. "I also enjoy knitting, crocheting, doing counted cross-stitch, and I am currently making baby items because Todd and (his wife) Lisa are expecting a baby in November. I also experiment with writing poetry, watercolor painting and pen and ink drawing."

by Frank Shipe