January Spotlight

David Cunningham, Edward Jones financial advisor, is optimistic about 2012′s financial outlook

David Cunningham has been a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones for nine years, but has been involved in investing for over twenty.  A graduate of Ohio State University, Cunningham’s management career originated at Rickenbacker Aviation Center at Rickenbacker Airport and later in computer manufacturing at Tracewell Systems.  In 2003, Cunningham decided on a career change to integrate his growing interest and skillfulness in investing with his desire for more autonomy in his work environment. He became a financial advisor with Edward Jones and hasn’t looked back.  “I liked Edward Jones’ commitment to individual and small business investors and recognized the opportunity to focus on clients while having the resources and expertise of a large investment company behind me,” Cunningham states.

Cunningham operates out of a small office in German Village and its central location is a good fit for his mostly urban client base. He states, “German Village is filled with people from all walks of life who believe in hard work and enjoy the riches that come with living in this celebrated community. It is incredibly rewarding for me to help my neighbors think and plan strategically for their futures.”

Trust and respect are at the core of Cunningham’s relationships with clients, most of who were attained through his active community engagement or by word of mouth. “Confidentiality is key to my business and so, while I never share the names of my clients with anyone, it is flattering to me when my clients share my name with others,” he states. Cunningham also takes his commitment to clients to heart. “Good customer service is not enough in this business. I develop strong relationships with each client – I have to. We’re talking about life savings here.  We’re mapping out plans for reaching life goals and addressing unexpected changes that occur along the way.  They trust me and I take that very personally.”

Cunningham is optimistic about 2012. He believes there will be a lot of fluctuation in the market but with a small, gradual upswing.  He notes some of the more recent positives – falling unemployment numbers, a stabilizing housing market, and a lot of cash savings.  Cunningham suggests now is a good time to ensure that IRAs are properly funded and to talk with a financial advisor about tax advantaged investments. He states, “The new year is a naturally good time to re-evaluate your goals and review potential scenarios. Make sure you have a solid plan in place for getting you where you want to be and don’t let the daily swings in the market drive your decision making.  It’s going to be a bumpy ride but I feel good about 2012.”

To talk to David about your financial planning needs, contact him at David.Cunningham@edwardjones.com or at 614.461.5803.