Melville NY Hiring Client Associate

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, specializing in goals-based wealth management, including planning for retirement, education, legacy, and other life goals.

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

Merrill follows an in-office culture that supports collaboration, engagement, and career development. In-office expectations are clear, with a suitable level of flexibility based on role responsibilities and business needs.

Merrill values diverse perspectives. Our team includes people with many different skills and experiences, including those gained through military service, community college, and a wide range of work and life experiences.

Advisor Development Program

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

The Wealth Management Client Associate (WMCA - ADP) is an entry role in the program, with the goal of becoming a full-scale Financial Advisor at Merrill. In this role you will provide client service support to Financial Advisors (FAs) and work with multiple FAs.

Your journey begins with 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 place of 66 if previously held). After licensing, you will learn 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 tailoring solutions to each FA's needs. You will be the most frequent point of contact within Merrill for addressing clients' service needs and will act as a resource for FAs on the 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 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 and guiding clients with advice and solutions. Upon meeting performance requirements as a trainee, you can become a Merrill Financial Advisor, with support from dedicated programs, tools, and resources.

Progressive role 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, compliance, and personal development on daily and longer-term schedules
• Organizing and managing time, people, and budget to run a productive practice
• Seeking specialists' expertise when appropriate to develop planning and investment strategies
• Completing mandated training, assessments, performance goals, and continuing education

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 appropriate solutions.
• Provide comprehensive advice, deliver client reviews and presentations, and recommend strategies for financial goals and life priorities.
• Collaborate with core banking and investment partners to connect clients to the solutions offered through Bank of America and Merrill.

Job responsibilities

• Partner 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.
• Provide 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 all 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 into day-to-day practices and communicating outcomes to the FA.
• Provide business growth support aligned to the Client Associate role, including business development, investment solutions, and business management support to multiple FAs.

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 new learnings and information
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Effective written and verbal communication
• Proven ability to quickly build trust and credibility, assess needs, and recommend solutions
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with partners and independently
• Proven ability to listen and probe for clarity
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a proven ability to source clients through prospecting and networking
• Strong follow-through
• Computer and technical literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office

Desired qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or a minimum of one year of work experience
• Learns and adapts to new technology or applications
• Handles multiple tasks at the same time

Compliance note

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. Registration includes a SAFE Act background check, and failure to obtain or maintain registration may result in immediate termination.