Kim Jenson is the Interim CEO of Raymond James Wealth Management and Charles Stanley & Co. Limited, and she is responsible for overseeing the Raymond James UK wealth management business. Kim is an Executive Director of the Board of Raymond James Wealth Management. She is also an Executive Director of Charles Stanley & Co. Limited. Kim joined from Raymond James Financial, Inc. in the US where she was Chief Operating Officer for Raymond James’ US Private Client Group. Kim has relocated to the UK as part of her new interim role.
Kim has more than 40 years of financial services experience. Prior to joining Raymond James in 2017, she held senior leadership roles at both UBS and Piper Jaffray. She began her career with Norwest Bank Minnesota (now Wells Fargo) and the Security State Bank of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Since joining Raymond James, she has led several internal teams, including PCG Strategy & Planning, Associate Financial Services, Investment Central, PCG Education & Practice Management, AdvisorChoice Consulting, Succession & Acquisition Planning, and Adviser Inclusion Networks, as well as the firm’s Private Wealth and Sustainable Investing initiatives. Her industry leadership experience includes correspondent banking, treasury management, trust and investment services, product development and sales, wealth management field management, coaching and development, and recruiting.
An active member of both local and international communities, she has served on the board of trustees for the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Public Radio, Chicago Foundation for Women, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and Friends of Ngong Road.
Bear market of 1974The severe bear market of 1974 threatened the existence of Raymond James, which was bleeding capital by the day. Tom James, his father and other leaders took extreme measures to keep the firm afloat, slashing costs, forgoing pay checks and even attempting to sell the firm for just enough capital to protect client assets and retain as many associates as possible. The story could have ended very differently if not for a sharp upturn and continued rebound in the stock markets late in the year. |
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Black MondayOn 19 October 1987, the stock markets experienced a dramatic plunge that prompted many firms to shut down their trading desks and turn off their phones to minimize internal losses. Raymond James refused to do the same. Our desks stayed open to help meet clients’ needs, resulting in our first and only unprofitable quarter since the firm went public in 1983. |
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Who was Raymond James?The Raymond in our name is actually from Edward Raymond, owner of a 15-employee mutual fund sales group, Raymond and Associates, along Florida’s west coast. He sold his company to Bob James on 15 July 1964, on condition that the surviving firm be called Raymond, James & Associates. Three days after the sale, Ed Raymond was involved in a near-fatal automobile accident and never joined the firm. Nonetheless, even after Raymond had passed away, Bob James insisted that his name remain on the door – ahead of James’ own. That was a promise he made to Ed Raymond three days before the accident, and Bob James was a man who kept his promises. |
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Taking Raymond James PublicWhen consideration was being given to taking Raymond James public, Tom James penned a letter to shareholders (largely employees at the time). ” … the public offering should be considered as a statement of our independence. While this is a psychological rather than an economic rationale, it is nonetheless very important. We have asserted for some time that we are not interested in becoming a small part of a very large corporation. That assertion results mainly from the inclinations of management rather than the economic benefits associated with either alternative. The public stock offering affords us the opportunity to enjoy a little bit of the best of both worlds. While shareholders will be given liquidity at fair market value, we will still have the ability to control our own destiny.” After 40+ years of Tom’s leadership, upon becoming CEO, Paul Reilly was often questioned about whether the company might ultimately surrender its cherished independence and be acquired by some larger entity. His response: “Not while I’m around.” It’s a theme that continues today. |
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