Administration

Communications

Financial experts offer career advice to C-SC students
Wednesday, March 23, 2011

CANTON, Mo. – From the collapse of the housing market to the impact of the continuing crisis in Japan – Culver-Stockton students heard first-hand accounts of how U.S. financial markets are affected by current events as professionals from Edward Jones Trust Company spoke during the “Financial Management” class.

Jeff Stuerman ‘82, principal and president of Edward Jones Trust Company and C-SC board of trustee member, and his colleague Eric Koestner, principal at Edward Jones spoke to students in Assistant Professor of Finance Kim Gaither’s class Wednesday, March 23.

In addition to explaining their day-to-day responsibilities with Edward Jones and the challenges facing the finance industry, Stuerman and Koestner discussed what they view as positive trends in the U.S. markets.

“I hope we gave students a glimpse of the real life issues facing businesses and markets today. Often, challenges that you can’t foresee come up in the finance industry. Hopefully, by sharing our experiences these students will be better prepared when faced with challenges in their own careers,” said Stuerman.

Koestner continued by stressing the importance of making the most of classroom experiences. “A lot of times students sit in class and think that what they’re learning doesn’t really apply. I would just like them to know that it’s crucial to have the base understanding, even just knowing the terminology is critical when you get into the field.”

Stuerman and Koestner both have extensive experience in the finance industry. Stuerman began his Edward Jones career in March 2008 as a principal and the president of Edward Jones Trust Company. He has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and, most recently, served as the president of his own consulting firm. In addition, he has served as the president and CEO of the TIAA-CREF Trust Company, as well as the vice president and director of marketing and new business development for the A.G. Edwards Trust Company. Stuerman is a graduate of Culver-Stockton College and earned an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.

Koestner began his Edward Jones career in 1998 as a member of the firm’s rotational development program. After completing the one-year program and gaining experience in marketing, trading and product review, Koestner joined the equity trading department, where he traded Nasdaq and NYSE listed stocks for the next four years. Koestner was named a limited partner with the firm in 2000, and in 2003, he assumed a leadership role in equity trading. In addition to these duties, he also led the firm’s rotational development program from 2004 to 2007. In 2006, Koestner moved to the corporate bond trading department, and today he is responsible for the secondary taxable fixed income area. He was named a principal with the firm in 2010. Koestner earned an undergraduate degree from Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., in 1998, and an MBA from Saint Louis University in 2006.

While visiting C-SC, Stuerman and Koestner also interviewed six Culver-Stockton students for a rotational development position with their firm.

Photos:
1) Students in the "Finance Management" class listen to a presentation given by professionals from Edward Jones Trust Company.
2) Jeff Stuerman '82, principal and president of Edward Jones Trust Company
3) Eric Koestner, principal Edward Jones
4) Students review hand-outs during class.