Wealth Management Client Associate, Advisor Development Program
The Wealth Management Client Associate – Advisor Development Program (WMCA - ADP) is an entry role into the Advisor Development Program, with the goal of becoming a full-scale Financial Advisor at Merrill. In this progression role, you will provide client service support to Financial Advisors (FAs).
Your journey starts with earning your Securities Industry licenses, with dedicated study time for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE), Series 7, and Series 66 exams. The SIE, Series 7 and 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 to be a WMCA - ADP.
You will support multiple FAs with client service, helping advance enterprise strategic objectives, operational excellence goals, and client advocacy while tailoring solutions to their needs. You will be the most frequent point of contact within Merrill for clients' service needs and 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 move into the next stage of the program as a Financial Advisor trainee. You will complete dedicated training, then continue working in a Merrill office building and managing client relationships, considering each client's complex financial picture and guiding them with advice and solutions. Once you meet your performance requirements as a trainee, you will become a Merrill Financial Advisor, supported by dedicated programs, tools, and resources.
Advisor Development Program Progression
The progressive roles in the program involve:
- 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 investment products and services suited to prospects based on their objectives, resources, time horizon, risk profile, and preferences
- Balancing investment growth, referrals, customer follow-up, prospecting, compliance, and personal development across daily and long-term planning
- Organizing and managing time, people, and budget to run a productive practice
- Seeking specialists' expertise when needed to identify planning and investment strategies for a client
- Completing mandated training, assessments, performance goals, and continuing education
What We'll Help You With
- 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 leaders invested in your success.
- Grow your business knowledge by using a consultative approach to identify client needs and appropriate solutions.
- Provide comprehensive advice, deliver client reviews and presentations with confidence, and recommend strategies to achieve financial goals and life priorities.
- Collaborate with core banking and investment partners. Connect clients to the solutions offered through Bank of America and Merrill to meet their financial needs.
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 appropriate client solutions by applying learnings and new information
- Exceptional interpersonal and relationship building skills
- Effective written and verbal communication
- Proven ability to quickly build trust and credibility
- 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 proficiency in 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
- Manages multiple tasks simultaneously
Job Responsibilities
- Partners with Financial Advisors, Client Relationship Managers, and Market Supervision Managers on client servicing, risk, investments, and banking products, seeking 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 of client materials and follows up on client and FA requests
- Helps ensure practices align with bank 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, communicating outcomes to the FA
- Supports general business growth functions, including business development, investment solutions, and 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 completing the required background check and registration process. Failure to obtain or maintain registration may result in immediate termination.
Shift: 1st shift (United States of America)
Hours Per Week: 37.5
