Jim Stowers,
Founder of American Century Investments and
Co-Founder of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

As a struggling mutual fund salesman in 1952, James E. Stowers Jr. discovered he could open more doors if he quit trying to sell people mutual funds and focused his efforts on showing them how they could improve their financial position. "If I tried to sell someone a fund, I failed miserably," says Stowers. "But when I asked if they’d like to see how they could improve their financial position, the door would swing wide open and they’d invite me in."

As his business grew, Stowers became more and more convinced that if he helped other people become successful, they in turn would help him become successful. In 1958, he founded Twentieth Century Investors, now known as American Century Investments family of mutual funds. Starting with $107,000 in capital from 24 shareholders, his own sheer determination and an optimistic outlook that "The Best Is Yet To Be," Stowers built a company that today manages more than $100 billion in assets and serves more than two million shareholders.

Recognized in the financial industry as "a friend to the small investor," Stowers believes one of the greatest contributions he can continue to make to others is to share his unique ideas and life experiences.

In 1993, Stowers wrote Yes, You Can . . . Achieve Financial Independence as a way of sharing his experiences, philosophies and optimism. Since then, more than 120,000 copies of the book have been distributed. It is currently in its fourth edition and continues to stimulate thousands of people into thinking about - and acting upon - their own long-term financial goals.

Stowers believes it is possible for anyone, provided they have the determination and the right information, to achieve financial independence. The information people are searching for can be found in the book and its companion CD-ROM, the Stowers Financial Analysis. Both pieces use cartoon illustrations, fact-filled charts and personal insights to help demonstrate Stowers’ philosophies.

The Stowers Financial Analysis takes people step-by-step through a series of personal financial worksheets that give an in-depth look at where they stand financially and what actions they might take to achieve financial freedom in the future.

In 2000, Stowers broadened his ability to reach people with the founding of Stowers Innovations, Inc. Stowers Innovations helps people get what they want by showing them the things they can do to achieve success. This includes financial information and a variety of inspirational and motivational concepts.

Stowers' commitment to helping others extends beyond individual personal growth. In April 2001, Stowers, along with his wife, Virginia, opened the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.

As cancer survivors, the Stowers are dedicating their fortune to supporting the basic research that will provide long-term solutions to gene-based diseases. The Institute conducts basic research into complex genetic systems to unlock the mysteries of diseases and find the keys to their causes, treatment and prevention. It aspires to be one of the most innovative biomedical research facilities in the world.

Having worked most of his life to help others achieve success, it is obvious that self-enrichment has never been Stowers’ main motivation. As he explains, "I would like to be remembered for what I did for others rather than what I did for myself."

Jack Jonathan,
President of Stowers Innovations

Jack Jonathan is President of Stowers Innovations, an American Century Company that has used direct marketing almost exclusively to promote its products over the past 15 years. Jack helped launch Stowers Innovations, originally Deer Publishing, in 1992 to publish and promote Yes, You Can - Achieve Financial Independence, a book and companion CD-ROM written by James E. Stowers.

Over the past 15 years, Jack has worked passionately to promote Mr. Stowers' philosophies of how everyone, no matter where they are in life can achieve what they want and improve their financial positions. Throughout this time, Jack has been committed to leveraging sophisticated, highly targeted direct marketing techniques to achieve the company's goals.

A native of Cairo, Egypt, Jack came to the U.S. in the early 1950s after working with the United States Office of War Information and the United States Information Agency in Cairo. This work fostered Jack's interest in book publishing and graphic arts, and he joined World Publishing in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1954 he moved to Kansas City to work at Hallmark Cards with founder Joyce Hall. While at Hallmark, Jack was responsible for development of new products. These products were distributed both through the Hallmark retail outlets and direct to consumer through the Halls brand.

After nearly 30 years at Hallmark, he retired and the day after his going away party moved to Europe to apply his extensive knowledge of product development for Swarovski Crystal. Seven years later, upon his return from Europe, Jack was approached by Jim Stowers to help him write, publish and distribute the book, Yes, You Can.

Jack, who can speak six languages, has long been respected as an innovative marketing professional. At 85+ years of age, he continues to astonish many marketing professionals half his age with his incredible creativity, his attention to detail, and his commitment to excellence in all that he does.