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Joe Ricketts: Founder of TD Ameritrade | The Benefits of a Non-Conformist Philosophy

Apr 6, 2022

Having spent more than 35 years helping establish and run the world’s largest online brokerage, Mr. Ricketts today has returned to his roots, focusing on a wide range of entrepreneurial and philanthropic ventures. A pioneer in using technology to revolutionize the financial services sector, Joe founded the company now known as TD Ameritrade, a securities industry leader. Since 2008, he has devoted himself to various entrepreneurial and philanthropic ventures, including Opportunity Education Foundation, The Cloisters on the Platte Foundation, The Ricketts Conservation Foundation, and The Ricketts Art Foundation.

 

Mr. Ricketts shares some phenomenal insights on the show today. We discuss why being let go from the family business as a young man helped focus his mind on what he really wanted to do with his life. Joe talks a little about his non-conformist attitude to life and why he feels that you need to step forward when you’re called to be a leader. He also shares the details of why he and his son decided to take their family business, Ameritrade, public and the reason Joe left the company, and why it turned out to be a much more emotional process than Joe anticipated.

 

“Responsibility and reliability come from you, not from anybody else.” - Mr. Ricketts

 

“If you don't enjoy the journey and the challenge of getting there, you’re not going to get it done.” - Mr. Ricketts

 

“I always felt we were going to be successful. So whatever came at us by way of a problem, we had to find the way to overcome it.” - Mr. Ricketts

 

 This Week on The Wow Factor:

  • Joe’s first job and how it gave him invaluable insights into how businesses worked
  • Why Joe left a secure role at Dean Witter to make the leap into entrepreneurship
  • Joe’s philosophy on dealing with his competitors
  • The importance of providing not only and great product but also an excellent customer experience
  • How Joe managed to get the Legacy Act of the Wyoming Range passed to protect a local wilderness area
  • Why Joe doesn’t get involved in partnerships in his business
  • The trusts started by Joe and his wife that required all of their four children to work together to manage their money and what they ended up doing with it
  • Straight Arrow News, Joe’s latest initiative, and why he decided to launch the news outlet on 2021

 

Joe Ricketts’s Words of Wisdom:

Being honest, candid, and straightforward is the best way for a leader to achieve success.

 

The Cloisters on The Platte:

The Cloisters on The Platte is a spiritual retreat for people who want to get closer to God. The goal of the retreat is for people to realize the deeper level of how Christ is our king. The 3 day silent retreat is a private and contemplative experience, tucked away in the rolling hills of Gretna, Nebraska.

 

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