Client Associate Advisor Development Program (Wilmington)

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, focused 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. Advisory 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, with flexibility based on role-specific responsibilities and business needs.

About the Role

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

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

Your journey begins 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 be taught the foundational skills needed for the WMCA - ADP role.

Key responsibilities include supporting enterprise strategic objectives, operational excellence goals, and client advocacy within the FA's business, while customizing solutions to specific needs. You will serve as the most frequent point of contact within Merrill for client service needs and act as a resource for FAs on the team.

After reaching key milestones, including proficiency in your current role and completing experiential activities that show your ability to become an advisor, you will progress to the next stage as a Financial Advisor trainee, building a book of business. You will complete dedicated training and continue working in a Merrill office, acquiring, building, and managing client relationships and guiding them with advice and solutions.

Once you complete your performance requirements as a Financial Advisor trainee, you can become a Merrill Financial Advisor, with dedicated programs, tools, and resources throughout your career.

Progressive Role Responsibilities

• Developing a book of business to meet and exceed established performance hurdles
• Prioritizing and sourcing prospective clients, capitalizing on referrals, assessing customer needs, referring customers to internal specialists, and executing customized solutions
• Recommending investment products and services suitable for prospects based on their objectives, resources, time horizon, risk profile, and preferences
• Balancing investment growth, referrals, customer follow-up, prospect building, 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 identify planning and investment strategies for clients
• Completing mandated training, assessments, performance goals, and continuing education requirements

What Bank of America Offers

• Build a successful career at Bank of America through world-class training and onboarding programs.
• Get training and one-on-one coaching from the award-winning Academy at Bank of America and local leadership.
• Grow your business knowledge using a consultative approach to identify client needs and appropriate solutions.
• Provide end-to-end advice, deliver client reviews and presentations with confidence, and recommend strategies for financial goals and life priorities.
• Collaborate with core banking and investment partners to connect clients to the solutions Bank of America and Merrill provide.

Required Qualifications

• Confidence working as a self-starter in a sales role
• Strong client relationships built through effective communication and collaboration
• Proactive mindset and effective time management
• Results-driven growth mindset that prioritizes client interests
• Identifies 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

Job Responsibilities

• Partners with Financial Advisors, Client Relationship Managers, and Market Supervision Managers on client servicing, risk, investments, and banking products, while receiving guidance and escalating issues as needed
• Provides excellent client service by educating clients on the bank's service and banking offerings
• Ensures timeliness, accuracy, and completeness in client materials and follows up on client and FA requests
• Assists with keeping practices aligned with the bank's policies and procedures to support operational excellence, protect clients, and manage risk
• Identifies, deepens, and maintains client relationships by emphasizing the bank's offerings and promoting banking in day-to-day practices, while communicating outputs to the FA
• Performs general business growth support, providing business development, investment solutions, and/or business management support to multiple FAs

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

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