Cookeville Adviser Says Building Habits and Working With a Trusted Adviser Move People From Stress To Confidence
(UCBJ) – A new national study from Edward Jones and Gallup, “Money Management and Financial Fulfillment,” challenges a common assumption: financial fulfillment isn’t primarily about how much money someone has. Instead, it’s about how well money aligns with a person’s values and aspirations, and whether it creates a sense of freedom, confidence and forward momentum in their life.
Yet only 16% of Americans describe themselves as financially fulfilled. The 32%, at the other end of the spectrum, feel financially stressed, and roughly half (51%) fall somewhere in the middle – not in crisis, but uncertain whether they’re on the right track.
“That middle group is really who I think about with this research,” said Craig Conner, a financial adviser with Edward Jones in the Upper Cumberland area. “They’re not in trouble, but they’re not confident either. A lot of what I do is help people move out of that gray area – get a clearer picture, build a strategy and actually feel good about where they’re headed.”
The study also found that financial stress reaches well beyond bank accounts. More than half stressed individuals say finances often or always control their lives, compared to just 2% of those who feel fulfilled who are also more likely to report stronger health, relationships and sense of community.
The encouraging finding: practical steps do make a difference. Building habits like budgeting and saving, reducing debt and working with a trusted financial adviser all contribute to moving from uncertainty toward confidence, intention and purpose.
To learn more about this research, visit edwardjones.com/gallup.
Conner’s office is 1420 Neal St. Ste. 101 in Cookeville. He and his team can be reached at 931-250-4091.
Edward Jones is a leading financial services firm serving clients across North America, with operations in the United States and Canada. It ranked No. 1 for advised investor satisfaction among 23 wealth management firms in the JD Power 2026 U.S. Investor Satisfaction Study*. More than 20,000 financial advisers serve over 9 million clients, with $2.4 trillion in client assets under care as of March 27, 2026. Edward Jones’ purpose is to partner for positive impact to improve the lives of its clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society.
Through the dedication of the firm’s approximately 55,000 associates and our branch presence in 68% of U.S. counties and all Canadian provinces, Edward Jones is committed to helping improve the financial fulfillment for tens of millions of long-term investors across North America by providing comprehensive, personalized planning and professional advice.
The Edward Jones website is edwardjones.com, and its recruiting website is careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.
*2026 JD Power U.S. Full Service Investor Satisfaction Study among Wealth Management Firms for Advised Investor Satisfaction, published March 2026, data as of January 2026. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the ranking.
Pictured above: Craig Conner.
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