Merrill Wealth Management Client Associate

About the Role

Merrill Wealth Management is seeking individuals for the Advisor Development Program (ADP), an entry-level role designed to guide you toward becoming a full-scale Financial Advisor at Merrill. This program is for individuals excited to make a career transition and pursue a passion for becoming a Financial Advisor. Merrill is committed to an in-office culture that supports collaboration, engagement, and career development.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide client service support to Financial Advisors (FAs).
• Obtain Securities Industry licenses: SIE, Series 7, and Series 66 (or accepted alternatives).
• Receive dedicated study time for licensing exams.
• Learn foundational skills to be a Wealth Management Client Associate – Advisor Development Program (WMCA - ADP).
• Support enterprise strategic objectives, operational excellence goals, and client advocacy within the FA’s business.
• Customize solutions based on specific FA needs.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for client service needs.
• Act as a resource for FAs on the team.
• Progress into building a book of business as a Financial Advisor trainee upon reaching key milestones and demonstrating proficiency.
• Complete dedicated training for the Financial Advisor role.
• Acquire, build, and manage client relationships, guiding them with advice and solutions based on their financial picture.
• Develop a book of business to meet and exceed established performance hurdles.
• Effectively prioritize and source prospective clients, capitalize on referrals, and assess customer needs.
• Refer customers to appropriate internal specialists and execute customized solutions.
• Recommend investment products and services suitable for prospects based on their objectives, resources, time horizon, risk profile, and preferences.
• Balance investment growth, referral activities, customer follow-up, prospect building, administrative compliance, and personal growth and development.
• Organize and manage resources (time, people, budget) to run a productive practice.
• Seek the expertise of specialists to identify planning and investment strategies for clients.
• Complete mandated training, assessments, performance goals, and continuing education requirements.
• Partner with Financial Advisors, Client Relationship Managers, and Market Supervision Managers on client servicing, risk, investments, and banking products.
• Provide excellent client service by educating clients on bank service and banking offerings.
• Ensure timeliness, accuracy, and completeness in client materials and follow up on client and FA requests.
• Assist with ensuring practices align with bank policies and procedures to support operational excellence, protect clients, and manage risk.
• Identify, deepen, and maintain client relationships by emphasizing bank offerings and promoting banking integration.
• Perform general business growth support functions, including business development, investment solutions, and business management support for multiple FAs.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Microsoft Suite proficiency.
• Computer/technical literacy.
• Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam.
• Series 7 exam.
• Series 66 exam (or Series 63 & 65 if previously held).

Qualifications

• 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 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.
• Bachelor’s degree and/or a minimum of one year of work experience (desired).
• Learns and adapts to new technology or applications (desired).
• Executes multiple tasks simultaneously (desired).
• High School Diploma / GED / Secondary School or equivalent (minimum education requirement).
• Subject to SAFE Act registration requirements.

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