About the Role
The Advisor Development Program is designed for individuals excited to make a career transition and follow their passion of becoming a Financial Advisor. The Wealth Management Client Associate – Advisor Development Program (WMCA - ADP) role is an entry role into our Advisor Development Program where the destination role is becoming a full-scale Financial Advisor at Merrill. This progression role is responsible for providing client service support to Financial Advisors (FAs).
Responsibilities
- Providing client service support to multiple FAs.
- Supporting enterprise strategic objectives, operational excellence goals, and client advocacy within the FA’s business.
- Customizing solutions based on specific needs.
- Serving as the most frequent point of contact within Merrill to address all service needs of their clients.
- Acting as a resource for FAs on the team.
- Progressing into the next stage of the Advisor Development Program, beginning building a book of business as a Financial Advisor trainee.
- Completing dedicated training preparing for the role of Financial Advisor trainee.
- Acquiring, building, and managing client relationships.
- Considering a client’s complex financial picture and guiding them with advice and solutions.
- Developing a book of business in order to meet and exceed established performance hurdles.
- Effectively prioritizing and sourcing prospective clients, capitalizing on referrals, assessing customer needs, referring customers to the appropriate internal specialists, and executing highly customized solutions to meet client needs.
- Recommending investment products and services that are suitable for prospects based on their objectives, resources, time horizon, risk profile and preferences.
- Balancing investment growth, referral activities, customer follow up, prospect building, administrative compliance and personal growth and development.
- Organizing and managing resources (time, people, budget) to run a productive practice.
- Seeking the expertise of specialists, where appropriate, to identify planning and investment strategies for a client.
- Completing mandated training, assessments, performance goals and continuing education requirements.
- Partnering with Financial Advisors, Client Relationship Managers, and Market Supervision Managers on all aspects of client servicing, risk, investments, and banking products.
- Providing excellent Client Service to the bank's clients through educating them on all of the bank's service and banking offerings.
- Ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and completeness in client materials and following up on all client and Financial Advisor (FA) requests.
- Assisting with ensuring practices are in alignment with the bank's policies and procedures to support operational excellence, protect the bank's clients, and manage risk.
- Identifying, deepening, and maintaining client relationships through emphasizing the bank's offerings and promoting incorporation of banking into day-to-day practices, while communicating outputs to the FA.
- Performing general business growth support functions aligned to the role of the Client Associate or Wealth Management Client Associate, providing business development, investment solutions, and/or business management support to multiple FAs.
Requirements
- Obtaining Securities Industry Essentials [SIE], Series 7, and Series 66 Exams within 120 days.
- 63 & 65 accepted, in lieu of 66, if previously held.
- Displays confidence working as a self-starter in a sales role.
- Builds strong client relationships through effective communication and collaboration.
- Displays a proactive mindset and effective time management.
- Demonstrates a results-driven growth mindset and prioritizes client interests.
- Identifies appropriate client solutions through application of learnings and new information.
- Exceptional interpersonal and relationship building skills.
- Effective communication skills (written and verbal).
- Proven ability to quickly build trust and credibility.
- Proven ability to assess needs of and recommend appropriate solutions.
- Proven ability to work both collaboratively on a team with key partners and independently.
- Proven ability to listen and probe for clarity and understanding.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a proven ability to source clients through extensive prospecting and networking.
- Strong follow-through skills.
- Computer/technical literacy and proficiency in applications such as Microsoft Suite.
- Subject to SAFE Act registration requirements.
- Must register and submit to the required SAFE Act background check and registration process.
- Failure to obtain and/or maintain SAFE Act registration may result in immediate termination.
- FDIC; Safe Act; Loan Originators; and FINRA laws or regulations restrict or prohibit the hiring of individuals with certain specified criminal history for the position.
Skills
- Account Management
- Client Management
- Customer and Client Focus
- Issue Management
- Oral Communications
- Business Development
- Client Solutions
- Advisory
- Pipeline Management
- Prioritization
- Trade Operations Management
- Administrative Services
- Client Investments Management
- Emotional Intelligence
- Referral Identification
- Written Communications
Location
- US - CA - San Francisco - 555 California St - Bofa Center - 555 California (CA5705)
Work Type
- In-office culture
- 1st shift
- 40 hours per week
Experience Level
- Entry role
Education Level
- Bachelor’s degree and/or a minimum of one year of work experience
Salary/Compensations
- $35.90 - $35.90 hourly pay
Benefits
- Industry-leading benefits
- Access to paid time off
- Resources and support
- Competitive benefits to support physical, emotional, and financial well-being
About the Company
- Merrill Wealth Management is a leading provider of comprehensive wealth management and investment products and services for individuals, companies, and institutions.
- Merrill Wealth Management 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 through investment advice and guidance.
- Merrill’s Financial Advisors and Wealth Management Client Associates help pursue the life they envision through a personal relationship with their advisory team committed to their needs.
- We believe trust comes from transparency.
- Our trusted advisory teams are equipped with access to the investment insights of Merrill coupled with the banking convenience of Bank of America.
- Merrill is committed to an in-office culture with specific requirements for office-based attendance and which allows for an appropriate level of flexibility for our teammates and businesses based on role-specific considerations.
- At Merrill, we empower you to bring your whole self to work.
- We value diversity in our thoughts, business, and within our employees.
- Our Wealth Management team represents an array of different backgrounds and bring their unique perspectives, ideas and experiences, helping to create a work community that is culture driven, resilient, results focused and effective.
- We provide industry-leading benefits, access to paid time off, resources and support to our employees so they can make a genuine impact and contribute to the sustainable growth of our business and the communities we serve.
- At Bank of America, we are guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better through the power of every connection.
- Responsible Growth is how we run our company and how we deliver for our clients, teammates, communities and shareholders every day.
- One of the keys to driving Responsible Growth is being a great place to work for our teammates around the world.
- We’re devoted to being a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone.
- We hire individuals with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences and invest heavily in our teammates and their families by offering competitive benefits to support their physical, emotional, and financial well-being.
- Bank of America believes both in the importance of working together and offering flexibility to our employees.
- We use a multi-faceted approach for flexibility, depending on the various roles in our organization.
- Working at Bank of America will give you a great career with opportunities to learn, grow and make an impact, along with the power to make a difference.
- Partnering Locally Learn about some of the ways Bank of America is making a difference in the communities we serve.
- Global Impact Learn about the six areas that guide Bank of America’s efforts to help make financial lives better for customers, clients, communities and our teammates.
- Opportunity and Inclusion Each employee brings unique skills, background and opinions.
- We see opportunity and inclusion as our platform for innovation and a key component in our success.
- Our Values Learn about our four values that represent what we believe.
