Merrill Wealth Management Client Associate, Advisor Development Program

About the Role

Merrill Wealth Management is seeking individuals for its Advisor Development Program, designed for those aspiring to become Financial Advisors. This is an entry-level role that serves as a progression path toward becoming a full-scale Financial Advisor. The program emphasizes an in-office culture that fosters collaboration and career development.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide client service support to Financial Advisors (FAs).
• Obtain Securities Industry licenses, including SIE, Series 7, and Series 66 (or 63/65 in lieu of 66 if previously held) within 120 days.
• Learn foundational skills required for the Wealth Management Client Associate (WMCA) role.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for client service needs.
• Act as a resource for FAs on the team.
• Support enterprise strategic objectives and operational excellence goals.
• Customize solutions based on specific FA needs.
• Progress to building a book of business as a Financial Advisor trainee upon reaching key milestones.
• Acquire, build, and manage client relationships, considering complex financial pictures and guiding clients with advice and solutions.
• Complete dedicated training and experiential activities to prepare for the Financial Advisor role.
• 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.
• Organize and manage resources (time, people, budget) to run a productive practice.
• Seek expertise from 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 them on bank service and banking offerings.
• Ensure timeliness, accuracy, and completeness in client materials and follow up on client and FA requests.
• Assist in 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 the incorporation of banking into daily practices, communicating outputs to the FA.
• Perform general business growth support functions aligned to the Client Associate or Wealth Management Client Associate role, providing business development, investment solutions, and/or business management support to multiple FAs.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Computer/technical literacy and proficiency in applications such as Microsoft Suite.
• SAFE Act registration is required, including a background check and registration process. Failure to obtain or maintain registration may result in termination.

Qualifications

• Confidence working as a self-starter in a sales role.
• Ability to build strong client relationships through effective communication and collaboration.
• Proactive mindset and effective time management.
• Results-driven growth mindset and prioritization of client interests.
• Ability to identify 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 collaboratively on a team 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).
• Ability to learn and adapt to new technology or applications (Desired).
• Ability to execute multiple tasks simultaneously (Desired).

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

Minimum Education Requirement

• High School Diploma / GED / Secondary School or equivalent.