A few short years after their graduation from Rowan University (then Glassboro State College), Jean & Ric Edelman founded Edelman Financial Services (EFS). Together, they built EFS, founded in 1987, into one of the largest independent financial planning and investment management firms in the country.

To date, the Fairfax, Va., company’s 170 advisors manage $16 billion in assets from 42 offices coast to coast, serving more than 30,000 individuals and families. The company has won more than 100 business, advisory, community and community service awards, including several “best places to work” awards.

Barron’s has named Ric the #1 Independent Financial Advisor in the nation three times (2009, 2010, 2012). This year, Forbes ranked him among the Top Ten Wealth Advisors in America from among 11,000 nominees.

A #1 New York Times best-selling author, Ric has written eight books. His latest, Rescue Your Money (2009), was updated and re-released in July.

One of the most successful women in the Washington, D.C., business community, Jean has served in virtually every position at Edelman Financial Services. As the Edelmans built their start-up company, Jean was EFS’ first receptionist, bookkeeper, portfolio record-keeper, payroll and HR expert, IT technician, operations specialist and facilities manager. Today, 300 employees perform the work solely done by Jean in the company’s early years.

Jean is the author of The Other Side of Money, which helps readers see themselves and the world around them in a positive, loving way.

Proud alumni

Jean and Ric met on campus in 1977, when she was a freshman and he was a sophomore. They became a couple the following year. Ric earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications in 1980, while Jean graduated in 1981 with her bachelor’s degree in Consumer Economics and Marketing, with a minor in Nutrition. They married in 1982.

Ric, who serves on the advisory board of Rowan’s College of Communication & Creative Arts, received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from the University in 1999. That year, he was Rowan’s Commencement speaker.

In 2007, he was inducted into the Rowan University Public Relations Student Society of America Hall of Fame.

Jean, who was class president her sophomore and junior years, was the institution’s first female president of the Student Government Association. In 1981, she graduated as the Distinguished Senior—the University’s highest student honor, awarded to only one graduate annually.

Jean served on Rowan’s Board of Trustees from 2008-’12. She was reappointed in 2014 and chairs the academic affairs/student affairs committee. She also serves on the nominations committee.

In 2013, Jean was the speaker for Rowan’s graduate school Commencement ceremony.