Client Associate, Winston-Salem NC

About Merrill Wealth Management

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

Merrill's Financial Advisors and Wealth Management Client Associates help clients pursue the life they envision. 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 responsibilities and business needs.

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

About the Role

The Wealth Management Client Associate - Advisor Development Program (WMCA - ADP) is an entry role in the Advisor Development Program. The end goal is becoming a full-scale Financial Advisor at Merrill. In this role you provide client service support to Financial Advisors (FAs).

You 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 completed within 120 days (Series 63 and 65 are accepted in place of 66 if previously held). After licensing, you will be trained in the foundational skills for the WMCA - ADP role.

You will serve as the most frequent point of contact within Merrill for your FAs' clients, addressing their service needs and acting as a resource for the team. Your work supports enterprise strategic objectives, operational excellence, and client advocacy while tailoring solutions to each FA's business.

Once you reach key milestones, including proficiency in your current role and completing experiential activities that show you can become an advisor, you move into the next stage as a Financial Advisor trainee. You build a book of business, working in a Merrill office to acquire, build, and manage client relationships. As a trainee you consider each client's complex financial picture and guide them with advice and solutions. After meeting your performance requirements, you can become a Merrill Financial Advisor, with support from dedicated programs, tools, and resources throughout your career.

Progressive Responsibilities

• Develop a book of business to meet and exceed performance goals
• Prioritize and source prospective clients, use referrals, assess needs, refer clients to internal specialists, and build customized solutions
• Recommend investment products suited to each prospect's objectives, resources, time horizon, risk profile, and preferences
• Balance investment growth, referrals, client follow-up, prospecting, compliance, and personal development
• Organize and manage time, people, and budget to run a productive practice
• Seek specialists' expertise where appropriate to develop planning and investment strategies
• Complete mandated training, assessments, performance goals, and continuing education

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Partner with Financial Advisors, Client Relationship Managers, and Market Supervision Managers on client servicing, risk, investments, and banking products
• Provide high-quality client service by educating clients on the bank's service and banking offerings
• Make sure client materials are timely, accurate, and complete, and follow up on client and FA requests
• Help keep practices aligned with bank policies and procedures to support operational excellence, protect clients, and manage risk
• Identify, deepen, and maintain client relationships by promoting banking in day-to-day practices and sharing outputs with the FA
• Provide business growth support, including business development, investment solutions, and business management support for multiple FAs

What We Will Help You With

• Build a successful career at Bank of America through training and onboarding programs
• Get training and one-on-one coaching from the Academy at Bank of America and local leadership
• Grow your business knowledge using a consultative approach to identify client needs and solutions
• Provide comprehensive advice, deliver client reviews and presentations, and recommend strategies for financial goals
• Collaborate with core banking and investment partners to meet clients' financial needs through Bank of America and Merrill

This position is subject to SAFE Act registration requirements. You must register with the federal registry and pass the required background check, and failure to obtain or maintain registration may result in termination.

Hours: 37.5 per week, 1st shift.