4 Decades and 3 Generations Later: Former Edward Jones Family Business on Their Path to Growth

The Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors

With Jason Barber, CEO and Founder, and Taylor Pankratz, President and Founder —Holistic Planning

Overview

What motivated the founders of Holistic Planning to leave Edward Jones, a firm their family built a business at over more than four decades? They discuss their thought process, the transition, and the growth opportunities they are now experiencing.

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NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

About this episode…

The stakes are high with every transition. But for some, they’re even higher.

And this breakaway story is about as high stakes as it gets:

A family business that started at Edward Jones in 1981, putting over 40 years of growth and three generations on the line.

Jason Barber was the third generation to join the practice his grandfather Paul and father Steve built at the firm. Then, nearly a decade later, Jason’s cousin, Taylor Pankratz, left Raymond James to become a part of their team.

Yet the pivotal moment came in 2023, when Jason, Steve, and Taylor made the tough decision to leave the firm where their family business was born and thrived, growing to over $500mm in assets under management.

So why would a team with this much history with Jones and whose business was literally built over generations and decades with the same firm, decide it was time to explore their options?

Jason and Taylor’s response is a common one that we hear from growth-minded advisors: “We outgrew the firm.”

So many advisors find themselves at a point where their desire to grow and the ability to achieve their goals are limited by the firm they work for—whether that be at Edward Jones or any other employee-model firm.

For Jason and Taylor, the only way to achieve what they set out for was to launch their own RIA, and in 2023, Holistic Planning was born.

In this episode with Jason Diamond, Jason and Taylor share the story, including:

• The culture change at Edward Jones—and how that motivated them to consider their options.
• The limitations they were feeling at the firm—and how removing the “governor on their growth” is allowing them to now build and grow as they desire.
• Their due diligence process—and why they ultimately chose to build their own independent firm.
• The family’s response to the news of change—and why their grandfather said, “What took you so long?”
• The specific things they were trying to implement at Jones—and what they can do at their own firm that’s been a real game-changer.
• The launch of their companion firm, Uptick Partners—and how they envision it will allow other breakaways to leverage the platform they built.

It’s an episode with a bit of something for every growth-minded advisor with helpful guidance on the process of considering change. Plus, it offers a firsthand perspective for senior and next gen advisors thinking through the next phase of their business.

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.

Related Resources

Post-Transition Survey: Checking in on Former Edward Jones Advisors Who Recently Moved
Unfiltered, fresh, candid, and honest feedback straight from your Edward Jones peers who transitioned to another firm or model within the past 18 months.

Assessing the Gap Between Where You Are and Where You Want to Be
A four-step process for financial advisors who are feeling the “pain of incongruence.”

Edward Jones Information Hub
A curated list of top-of-mind content for Edward Jones Advisors.

Behind the Breakaway: Uptick Partners Podcast
Learn more about our breakaway experience and the movement to RIA independence.

Jason Barber
CEO & Founder

Jason is a founder of Holistic Planning. He serves as the firm’s CEO and sets the firm’s overall vision and strategy. The creation of Holistic Planning, a fee-only independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), is the direct result of Jason’s desire to provide clients the most value and service while reducing conflict of interest to a minimum. Prior to founding Holistic Planning, Jason was with Edward Jones for 12 years and served in numerous leadership roles.

Jason is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. and the Accredited Asset Management Specialist designation awarded by the College for Financial Planning. He considers himself to be a lifelong learner and a servant leader.

Jason and his wife Rachel were married on August 6, 2016, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. They share their wedding anniversary with Rachel’s parents and her grandparents. They have three handsome sons named Luke, Samuel, and Jack. They are also proud parents of their daughter in heaven, Joanna. Jason and Rachel believe it is their obligation to share how God helped them overcome the pain and sadness of that loss.

Jason and Rachel are Christians and active members of First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches, Texas. They believe in raising their boys to be godly young men with strong, conservative values of hard work and respect for others. They know Holistic Planning will only be as successful as God allows it to be, but the foundation of this company is in Christ alone.

When he’s not working, Jason enjoys spending time with Rachel and the boys on their 182-acre, East Texas homestead, riding their side-by-side, fishing, shooting skeet, and playing golf.

Taylor Pankratz
President & Founder

Taylor founded Holistic Planning after serving his clients at Edward Jones and Raymond James for seven years. Holistic Planning was founded with the vision of adding uncompromising value to his clients and their families in ways not previously possible.

Taylor prides himself on his ability to simplify the complex and bring a common-sense approach to financial advice. Taylor is a graduate of Texas A&M University, holding a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering along with the Accredited Asset Management Specialist designation.

An East Texas native, Taylor resides in Nacogdoches with his wife, Amanda, and their two children, Nathan and Micah. Taylor enjoys coaching his sons’ sports teams and playing golf as well as woodworking and cooking.

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