In the early 1980s, Jerry worked as a state of Michigan co-manager for Homelife Insurance Company, now known as Phoenix Homelife. As an investment professional, he was deeply dissatisfied with the broker/dealer alternatives then available. And so in 1983, he made the decision to establish Sigma Financial Corporation as a way of creating the services he had been seeking.

The following year, he founded Sigma Planning Corporation (SPC) to function as an SEC-registered investment advisor. Originally intended as a means of providing Sigma representatives with fee-based planning opportunities, the firm currently offers numerous money management services, allowing reps to compete effectively in the rapidly growing fee-based money management business.

In 2013, Jerry celebrated Sigma’s 30th anniversary. He has employed a dedicated and caring staff of 100+ associates to help carry out his vision of providing comprehensive tools, products and services to help advisors assist middle American Investors achieve financial success. Currently the staff services nearly 1200 registered representatives/financial advisors between two SEC/FINRA registered securities broker dealers.

Jerry and his wife Donna reside in Pinckney, MI and also have a winter home in Spring Hill, FL. Their son, Brandon Rydell, maintains his role as CFO of Sigma Financial and SPC, and their daughter Kristen fulfills auditing duties within the firms Compliance Department.