Client Associate, Wayne NJ

Merrill Wealth Management is one of the largest goals-based wealth management businesses in the world. It offers investment advice and guidance for retirement, education, legacy, and other life goals to individuals, companies, and institutions.

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 combine Merrill's investment insights with the banking convenience of Bank of America.

Merrill operates an in-office culture that supports collaboration, engagement, and career development. The approach sets clear in-office expectations while allowing flexibility based on role responsibilities and business needs.

Advisor Development Program

The Advisor Development Program is designed for people who want to transition into a career as 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.

The role starts with obtaining Securities Industry licenses. Dedicated study time is provided for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE), Series 7, and Series 66 exams. The SIE, Series 7 and 66 must be completed within 120 days. The 63 and 65 exams are accepted in place of the 66 if previously held. After licensing, you will learn the foundational skills needed for the WMCA - ADP role.

In this role you provide client service support to multiple Financial Advisors. You support enterprise strategic objectives, operational excellence goals, and client advocacy, and tailor solutions to each advisor's needs. You serve as the most frequent point of contact within Merrill for client service needs and act as a resource for the advisors on your team.

Once you reach key milestones, including proficiency in your current role and completion of experiential activities that show your ability to become an advisor, you move to the next stage. You begin building a book of business as a Financial Advisor trainee, with dedicated training. You continue to work in a Merrill office while acquiring, building, and managing client relationships and offering advice and solutions. After completing the trainee performance requirements, you can become a Merrill Financial Advisor, supported by programs, tools, and resources throughout your career.

Program 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 investment products and services that suit each prospect's objectives, resources, time horizon, risk profile, and preferences
• Balancing investment growth, referrals, client follow-up, prospecting, administrative compliance, and personal development
• Organizing and managing time, people, and budget to run a productive practice
• Seeking specialists' expertise when needed to build planning and investment strategies
• Completing mandated training, assessments, performance goals, and continuing education

What We Offer

• Career building at Bank of America through 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 strategy recommendations for financial goals
• Collaboration with core banking and investment partners to meet clients' financial needs

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Partner with Financial Advisors, Client Relationship Managers, and Market Supervision Managers on client servicing, risk, investments, and banking products
• Deliver excellent client service by educating clients on the bank's service and banking offerings
• Ensure timeliness, accuracy, and completeness of client materials, and follow up on client and Financial Advisor requests
• Help keep practices aligned with bank policies and procedures to support operational excellence and manage risk
• Identify, deepen, and maintain client relationships by promoting banking offerings and communicating outputs to the Financial Advisor
• Provide general business growth support, including business development, investment solutions, and business management support to multiple advisors

This position is subject to SAFE Act registration requirements. Employees engaged in residential loan mortgage originations must register with the federal registry and remain in good standing. Failure to obtain or maintain registration may result in termination.

This is a full-time position with 40 hours per week on 1st shift. The role is compensated with a base salary, is not incentive eligible, and is benefits eligible.