Ernst & Young Names Benjamin F. (Tad) Edwards IV One of Six St. Louis Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2018 Award Finalists in the Heartland Program

ST. LOUIS, May 01, 2018 -- Benjamin F. (Tad) Edwards IV, chairman, CEO, and president of Clayton-based Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. is a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year^® 2018 Award in the Heartland program, officials with Ernst & Young announced.  The award program recognizes entrepreneurs who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

Edwards was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a black-tie gala on June 14 at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis.  Edwards is one of six finalists from the St. Louis area and eight in Missouri. Ernst & Young honored a total of 31 entrepreneurs in the Heartland region.

“This high honor was the furthest thing from our minds when we set out to create a financial services firm that put clients first, where they belong – at the forefront of everything we do and decision we make,” said Edwards. “Supplement that relationship with knowledgeable personnel, unparalleled service, and best in breed technology, and you have a formula for a successful enterprise that can accomplish wonderful things,” said Edwards.

Edwards founded Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. at the height of the Great Recession when many storied financial services companies were being acquired or going out of business. “During that time, the advisor-client relationship was being overshadowed by quotas and managerial directives,” Edwards added. “When it came to financial planning and decision-making, we wanted to the advisor-client relationship where it needed to be – back in the driver’s seat.”

Edwards clearly identified a need. Today, the firm, which is headquartered in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton, now has 68 offices, in 27 states, with more than 500 employees.

Now in its 32nd year, the Entrepreneur of the Year program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries throughout the world. 

Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National competition. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 17, 2018. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum^®, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

Sponsors
Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the U.S. by SAP America, Merrill Corporation and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
Local sponsors for the Heartland program include Salo, Padilla, Twin Cities Business, PNC, Schulze School of Entrepreneurship and Lockton Companies.

About Benjamin F. Edwards & Co.
With a tagline of “Investments for Generations,” Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. is headquartered in St. Louis, Mo. The firm was founded in 2008 by Benjamin F. (Tad) Edwards IV, opened its first branch in 2009, and currently has 68 offices in 27 states and more than 500 employees.

A subsidiary of Benjamin Edwards, Inc., Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. is a full-service brokerage and a Registered Investment Adviser and offers a wide array of financial products, advisory, and investment banking services to its clients and financial advisors. For more information about Benjamin F. Edwards & Co., please visit the firm’s corporate website, benjaminfedwards.com, GetInAtBenEdwards.com for advisors, or follow the company on Twitter.com/GrowWithBFEC.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year^®
Entrepreneur Of The Year^®, founded by EY, is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, chosen from an independent panel of judges including entrepreneurs and prominent leaders from business, finance, and the local community. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries. ey.com/eoy 

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

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Margaret Welch at 314-703-1215, or
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