Merrill Wealth Management Client Associate

About the Role

Merrill Wealth Management is seeking individuals excited to make a career transition and follow their passion of becoming a Financial Advisor through the Advisor Development Program. This role is an entry-level position with the destination of becoming a full-scale Financial Advisor at Merrill.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide client service support to Financial Advisors (FAs).
• Support enterprise strategic objectives, operational excellence goals, and client advocacy.
• Customize solutions based on the specific needs of FAs.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients' service needs.
• Act as a resource for FAs on the team.
• Progress into developing a book of business as a Financial Advisor trainee after reaching key milestones and demonstrating proficiency.
• Acquire, build, and manage client relationships, guiding them with advice and solutions considering their complex financial picture.
• Partner with Financial Advisors, Client Relationship Managers, and Market Supervision Managers on client servicing, risk, investments, and banking products.
• Provide client education on the bank's service and banking offerings.
• Ensure timeliness, accuracy, and completeness in client materials and follow up on all requests.
• Assist with ensuring practices align with the bank's policies and procedures to support operational excellence, protect clients, and manage risk.
• Identify, deepen, and maintain client relationships by emphasizing the bank's offerings and promoting the incorporation of banking into daily practices.
• Communicate outputs to the FA.
• Perform general business growth support functions for multiple FAs, including business development, investment solutions, and business management support.
• Develop a book of business to meet and exceed established performance hurdles.
• Prioritize and source prospective clients, capitalize on referrals, assess customer needs, and refer customers to appropriate internal specialists.
• Execute highly customized solutions to meet client needs.
• 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.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Securities Industry Essentials [SIE], Series 7, and Series 66 Exams must be obtained within 120 days. (Note: Series 63 & 65 are accepted in lieu of Series 66 if previously held.)
• Foundational skills to be a WMCA - ADP.
• Microsoft Suite proficiency.
• Computer/technical literacy.

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).

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

This position may be responsible for the provision of residential mortgage loans and is subject to SAFE Act registration requirements.

Shift: 1st shift (United States of America)

Hours Per Week: 37.5