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Joseph J. Thomas

Joseph J. Thomas

Director

Joseph Thomas is a Director with Bates Group, working out of St. Louis, MO. Mr. Thomas has thirty years of securities industry compliance, supervision, operations and administration experience. He has an educational background in quantitative management, and work experience leading teams of associates, implementing process and workflow changes, and developing supervisory systems and policies. In addition, Mr. Thomas has provided quantitative and substantive witness testimony and opinions in over 100 retail securities litigation, arbitration, and court matters.

While with Wells Fargo/Wachovia Securities/A.G. Edwards & Sons, as Vice President and Finance Manager/Litigation Auditor, Mr. Thomas was responsible for coordinating and supervising the preparation of financial and damages analysis reports. He was also responsible for consulting and providing opinions on trading patterns, investment product and market risk analysis, investment cost analysis and case assessment related to securities litigation. In addition, Mr. Thomas provided expert testimony during legal proceedings as to the validity of the financial data and substantive matters including compliance procedures and supervision. Mr. Thomas also served on the Wells Fargo Advisors Information Governance Board, Information Strategy Initiative Committee, Business Continuity Council, and Service Break Committee, Firm Incentive Award Advisory Committee and was a member of the Senior Leadership Council.

Prior to Wells Fargo, Mr. Thomas was with Edward Jones Investments for 17 years. In his role as Area Team Leader, his responsibilities included coordinating the sales and compliance supervision of approximately 780 Investment Representatives in the Southeastern United States, supervising a staff of Field Supervision Directors and providing oversight and development. Mr. Thomas coordinated branch compliance audits, developed and delivered educational training to the department as well as regional Investment Representative Meetings. He also served as firm representative in arbitration hearings and provided testimony regarding suitability, supervision systems, and performance analysis. Mr. Thomas also participated in Sales Practice Examinations with the NASD and NYSE on a regular basis.

While with Edward Jones, Mr. Thomas spent six years in a Field Supervision Director role where his responsibilities included daily oversight and supervision of 130 Investment Representatives as registered Branch Manager. He reviewed all daily trading activity, provided guidance and instructions directly to the Investment Representatives, and delivered education advice, and compliance presentations at regional meetings. Mr. Thomas conducted annual compliance audits and oversight of all functions of the branch office. During this time, he was also involved in the development of supervisory systems as well as an automated new account system.

Joseph is a consultant and subject matter expert in these Practice Areas and Services:

Credentials

EXPERIENCE

Wells Fargo/Wachovia Securities/A.G. Edwards & Sons, 2005 to 2011

  • Finance Manager/Litigation Auditor, Vice President, Legal Division (2009–2011)
  • Litigation Auditor, Operations Manager, Vice President, Law Department (2005-2009)

Edward Jones Investments, 1988 – 2005

  • Area Team Leader, Limited Partner – Field Supervision (2000-2005)
  • Field Supervision Director, Limited Partner (1994-2000)
  • Operations Specialist – Product Master File (1992-1994)
  • Cash Operations Relationship Associate – Branch Cash Receipts (1989-1991)
  • Loan Servicing Specialist – Edward D. Jones Mortgage Operations (1988-1989)

EDUCATION

University of Missouri, St. Louis, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Management Science/Quantitative Management.

PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS

Series 7, General Securities Representative

Series 8, General Securities Sales Supervisor

Series 24, Securities Principal

Series 63, State Securities License

Life and Health Insurance License, State of Missouri

Member National Society of Compliance Professionals

Member National Society of Compliance Professionals

Member Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Compliance and Legal Society

Member Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Senior Investors Committee

Member, National Adult Protective Services Association

National Adult Protective Services Association Public Policy Committee

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Panelist, “Current and Future Employment Issues: What to Expect Going Forward.”  CLE webinar presented by Bates Group regarding employment issues in financial services post-Covid, featuring industry employment and human resources experts, June 2021

SIFMA Senior Investors Workshop, Minneapolis, MN, April 2019

SIFMA Senior Investors Workshop, Phoenix, AZ, May 2018

Aging Clients and Advisors Panel, FSI One Voice Conference, 2016