Merrill 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, focused on 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. 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. Role-specific responsibilities and business needs determine the level of flexibility offered.

Advisor Development Program

The Advisor Development Program is designed for individuals who want to transition into a career as a Financial Advisor. The Wealth Management Client Associate (WMCA - ADP) role is an entry point into the program, with the destination of becoming a full-scale Financial Advisor at Merrill. In this role, you provide client service support to Financial Advisors (FAs).

Your journey starts with obtaining Securities Industry licenses. You will receive 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.

In this role, you will support multiple FAs by addressing client service needs, acting as the most frequent point of contact within Merrill, and serving as a resource for 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 as a Financial Advisor trainee.

As a trainee, you will complete dedicated training and then continue working in a Merrill office, building and managing client relationships and guiding clients with advice and solutions. After meeting your performance requirements as a trainee, you can become a Merrill Financial Advisor, with support from dedicated programs, tools, and resources.

Program Responsibilities

• Developing a book of business to meet and exceed established performance goals
• 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 each prospect's objectives, resources, time horizon, risk profile, and preferences
• Balancing investment growth, referrals, client follow-up, prospecting, compliance, and personal development on both a daily and long-term basis
• Organizing and managing time, people, and budget to run a productive practice
• Seeking specialists' expertise when needed to develop planning and investment strategies for clients
• Completing mandated training, assessments, performance goals, and continuing education

Job Responsibilities

• Partnering with Financial Advisors, Client Relationship Managers, and Market Supervision Managers on client servicing, risk, investments, and banking products, while seeking guidance and escalating issues as needed
• Providing excellent client service by educating clients on the bank's service and banking offerings
• Ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and completeness of client materials, and following up on client and FA requests
• Helping ensure practices align with the bank's policies and procedures to support operational excellence, protect clients, and manage risk
• Identifying, deepening, and maintaining client relationships by promoting banking offerings and communicating outcomes to the FA
• Providing business development, investment solutions, and business management support to multiple FAs

What We'll Help You With

• Build a 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 through 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 connect clients to the solutions offered through Bank of America and Merrill

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. Failure to obtain or maintain SAFE Act registration may result in termination.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment.

Shift: 1st shift. Hours per week: 37.5. This role is compensated with a base salary, is not incentive eligible, and is benefits eligible.