Culture & Diversity

Raymond James salutes veterans

On Veterans Day, we remember and honor our nation’s veterans. As they have already given so much, it should be a part of our everyday effort to do as much as we can to support, listen and educate on their behalf.

That is why the Raymond James Veterans Inclusion Network, Valor, strives to model these efforts through action and education each day.

Golfing to give back

The network hosted its inaugural golf tournament at MacDill Air Force Base Bay Palms Golf Course to benefit the Wounded Warrior Abilities Ranch (WWAR) and Veterans Village. After the round, golfers got to hear firsthand from these two organizations about their purpose and mission of supporting veterans in the community.

Veterans Village’s mission was originally to provide transitional housing. It soon turned into finding permanent housing for low income/disabled veterans, which caused the organization to invest in land to create affordable homes and a self-sustaining environment.

The WWAR features cycling, fishing and exercise equipment built for veterans. Mike Delancey, the founder of WWAR, is a Pinellas Park native. During his final tour in Afghanistan, Delancey was shot by a sniper, paralyzing him. At the golf tournament, he explained how surviving and then continuing to live by finding ways to do activities he enjoyed inspired him to create the ranch in Pinellas County. Delancey’s story was met by a standing ovation.

Commemorating veterans at Raymond James

Valor hosted a lunch event featuring guest speaker Kurt Gredzinski, team chief of U.S. Special Operations Command, who commemorated veterans and honored the many Raymond James associates who served, or currently serve, our country.

Gredzinski spoke of his time in Europe during the fall of the Berlin Wall, the world of financial crime and leadership lessons. He coupled that with information about what it's like for veterans searching for work after their time in the military, as well as transitioning to the corporate world.

Raymond James seeks to provide opportunities for veterans and military spouses. Most recently, Raymond James was inducted into the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) program by the U.S. Department of Defense.

The MSEP is an employment and career partnership connecting military spouses with more than 390 partner employers who have committed to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses in portable careers.

The MSEP launched on June 29, 2011 to serve spouses from all military services and provide training and education, as well as the resources and opportunities needed to continue their careers. For example, if a service member receives orders to move, the military spouse will have access to positions at Raymond James or partner companies in their new location.

By joining the MSEP, Raymond James has become a part of an even larger collective effort to support military spouse employment. 

Another way Raymond James has focused efforts on veteran recruiting is through our Advisor Mastery Program (AMP), which hosts recruiting events specifically for veterans who are interested in becoming a financial advisor. The AMP team attends job fairs at Air Force bases and other military locations across the country – click here to learn more about the program.

These AMP recruiting efforts, our MSEP partnership and events put on by Valor, the Raymond James Veterans Inclusion Network, show the firm's commitment to our veterans, military spouse associates and the local veteran community as a whole.