This is the ninth year that Edward Jones has appeared in this prestigious ranking. These rankings include six top 10 finishes and consecutive No. 1 rankings in 2002 and 2003.

The FORTUNE 100 Best ranking is employee-driven, with two-thirds of the scoring based upon how randomly selected employees respond to an anonymous survey designed to measure the quality of workplace culture. The remainder of the score is based on in-depth analysis of company benefits and practices.

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. The firm's 10,000-plus financial advisors work directly with more than 7 million clients to understand their personal goals -- from college savings to retirement -- and create long-term investment strategies 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.

Edward Jones is headquartered in St. Louis. The Edward Jones interactive Web site is located at www.edwardjones.com, and its recruiting Web site is www.careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.