Client Associate Advisor Development Program

About Merrill Wealth Management

Merrill Wealth Management is a leading provider of wealth management and investment products and services for individuals, companies, and institutions. It is one of the largest businesses of its kind in the world, focusing on goals-based wealth management, including planning for retirement, education, legacy, and other life goals through investment advice and guidance.

Merrill's Financial Advisors and Wealth Management Client Associates help clients pursue the life they envision through a personal relationship with their advisory team. Teams have access to Merrill's investment insights along with the banking convenience of Bank of America.

Merrill is committed to an in-office culture that supports collaboration, engagement, and career development. Clear in-office expectations are in place, with flexibility based on role responsibilities and business needs.

The Advisor Development Program is designed for individuals who want to make a career transition and pursue becoming a Financial Advisor.

Role Overview

The Wealth Management Client Associate (WMCA - ADP) role is an entry role into the Advisor Development Program, with the destination of becoming a full-scale Financial Advisor at Merrill. This role provides client service support to Financial Advisors (FAs).

You will begin by obtaining Securities Industry licenses, with dedicated study time for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE), Series 7, and Series 66 exams. The SIE, Series 7 and Series 66 must be obtained within 120 days (63 and 65 are accepted in lieu of 66 if previously held). Once licensed, you will learn the foundational skills needed for the WMCA - ADP role.

In this role you will serve as the most frequent point of contact within Merrill for clients' service needs and act as a resource for the FAs on your team. Key responsibilities include supporting enterprise strategic objectives, operational excellence, and client advocacy, while customizing solutions to each FA's needs.

After reaching key milestones, including proficiency in your current role and completing experiential activities that show your ability to become an advisor, you will move into the next stage as a Financial Advisor trainee and begin building a book of business. You will complete dedicated training and then continue working in a Merrill office, acquiring, building, and managing client relationships. Completing the trainee performance requirements leads to becoming a Merrill Financial Advisor, with programs, tools, and resources available throughout your career.

Progressive Responsibilities

• Developing a book of business to meet and exceed performance hurdles
• Prioritizing and sourcing prospective clients, using referrals, assessing customer needs, referring customers to internal specialists, and delivering customized solutions
• Recommending suitable investment products and services based on objectives, resources, time horizon, risk profile, and preferences
• Balancing investment growth, referrals, client follow-up, prospecting, administrative compliance, and personal development on daily and longer-term plans
• Organizing and managing time, people, and budget to run a productive practice
• Seeking specialists' expertise where appropriate to develop planning and investment strategies
• Completing mandated training, assessments, performance goals, and continuing education

Job Responsibilities

• Partners with Financial Advisors, Client Relationship Managers, and Market Supervision Managers on client servicing, risk, investments, and banking products, while escalating issues as needed
• Provides excellent client service by educating clients on the bank's service and banking offerings
• Ensures timeliness, accuracy, and completeness of client materials and follows up on all client and FA requests
• Helps keep practices aligned with bank policies and procedures to support operational excellence, protect clients, and manage risk
• Identifies, deepens, and maintains client relationships by promoting banking offerings and communicating outputs to the FA
• Performs business growth support functions, including business development, investment solutions, and business management support for multiple FAs

What Bank of America Offers

• Career building through world-class training and onboarding programs
• Training and one-on-one coaching from the Academy at Bank of America and local leadership
• Business knowledge growth through a defined consultative approach to identify client needs and solutions
• End-to-end advice, client reviews and presentations, and strategies to meet financial goals
• Collaboration with core banking and investment partners to connect clients to the full range of Bank of America and Merrill solutions

Required Qualifications

• Confidence working as a self-starter in a sales role
• Builds strong client relationships through effective communication and collaboration
• Proactive mindset and effective time management
• Results-driven growth mindset that prioritizes client interests
• Identifies appropriate client solutions by applying learnings and new information
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Effective written and verbal communication
• Proven ability to build trust and credibility quickly
• Proven ability to assess needs and recommend appropriate solutions
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with key partners and independently
• Proven ability to listen and probe for clarity and understanding
• Entrepreneurial mindset with proven ability to source clients through prospecting and networking
• Strong follow-through
• Computer and technical literacy, including Microsoft Office applications

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or a minimum of one year of work experience
• Learns and adapts to new technology or applications
• Executes multiple tasks simultaneously

Compliance Notice

This position is subject to SAFE Act registration requirements. Employees engaged in residential mortgage loan originations must register with the federal registry system and remain in good standing. Required registration and the SAFE Act background check must be completed, and failure to obtain or maintain registration may result in immediate termination.

Shift: 1st shift. Hours per week: 37.5.