Dedicated to serving those who have served
Those who served in the military maintain indelible bonds forged through shared experience. At Raymond James, we proudly honor and amplify those connections through Valor, a network of associates with ties to the military community.
Valor, the Raymond James Veterans Inclusion Network, helps veterans and military spouses discover, build, and maintain rewarding careers in a field that values their leadership skills and commitment to service.
Heroes work here
Through Valor, Raymond James partners with eight strategic programs that assist the veteran community, including two nonprofits that help people transition from the military to the civilian workforce.
“Often when people join the military, that’s all they’ve ever wanted to do – that’s their purpose,” says financial advisor Austin Storck, who joined Raymond James after serving as a radio operator for the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. “How do you find that again when you’re transitioning out?”
Austin connected with The Honor Foundation, which works with members of the U.S. Special Operations community to find their “why” – and how they can translate their military service to the outside world.
Valor also works with Hiring Our Heroes, a nonprofit program offering corporate fellowships that help veterans prepare for and transition into careers in the private sector.
“They start by looking at our resumes,” says Seneca Hall, a manager within Central Compliance who retired from the Pentagon after 26 years in the Navy. “They teach you how to give an elevator pitch, how to negotiate a salary, interview prep – they look at our skills and try to match them up with their corporate partners.”
Joining Raymond James, it turns out, wasn’t such a difficult transition after all. “In the military, we’re very close-knit,” Seneca explains. “If you come across a Navy air traffic controller, they’re likely to know who I am. That’s how I feel at Raymond James. You meet a lot of people, and everybody’s just genuine.”
Hiring Our Heroes also works with military spouses, who have a 26% unemployment rate, says Sarah Nightengale, a Senior Advisor in Supervision Metrics. “All that bouncing around we do makes it challenging to find and keep high-quality jobs. Hiring Our Heroes was designed to help military spouses find quality work and career progression.”
A support network
“Raymond James knew I was a military spouse and that I wouldn’t be able to be a local employee, so making my position fully remote has been a tremendous support,” says Sarah.
Much of that support comes from within Valor and our Veteran Financial Advisor Inclusion Network (VFAN).
“The Valor community is extremely supportive,” Sarah says. “I can find anyone in the network and say ‘Hey, can we meet for a coffee chat? I want to meet you and hear about your experience’ and I’ve never had anyone turn me down.”
“Raymond James has a lot of veterans, and they’re tremendous mentors,” says Austin. “Unlike other firms, people here are willing to mentor and help you – especially other associates with ties to the military.”
Valor’s support extends beyond our associates. For example, the VFAN Financial Assistance Program provides complimentary financial counseling services to Gold Star families (those who have lost a loved one in military service). The Raymond James Annual Golf Outing has raised over $419,000 as of 2023 for 41 nonprofit organizations that provide resources for veterans and military families, such as the Wounded Warriors Abilities Ranch and Operation Healing Forces.
“At Raymond James, they take their dedication to serving those who have served to the Nth degree,” says Austin. “You see it on all levels. They don’t just say they support veterans, they take action.”