Advisor Development Program Client Associate

Bank of America•Bridgewater, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Wealth Management Client Associate – Advisor Development Program (WMCA - ADP) is an entry-level role designed to lead to a full-scale Financial Advisor position at Merrill. The initial phase involves obtaining Securities Industry licenses (SIE, Series 7, and Series 66 within 120 days), with dedicated study time provided. Once licensed, the individual will develop foundational skills as a WMCA - ADP, offering client service support to multiple Financial Advisors (FAs). This includes supporting enterprise objectives, operational excellence, and client advocacy, serving as a primary client contact, and acting as a resource for FAs. Upon meeting key milestones and demonstrating advisor capabilities, the role progresses to a Financial Advisor trainee, where the focus shifts to building a book of business. This stage involves dedicated training, acquiring, building, and managing client relationships, and providing financial advice and solutions. The ultimate goal is to become a Merrill Financial Advisor after completing performance requirements as a trainee. The program provides continuous support, tools, and resources. Progressive roles within the Advisor Development Program involve developing a book of business, prioritizing prospective clients, leveraging referrals, assessing client needs, referring to specialists, executing customized solutions, recommending suitable investment products, balancing various professional activities, managing resources, seeking expert advice for planning strategies, and fulfilling training and continuing education requirements. Bank of America supports career growth with world-class training, one-on-one coaching, and a consultative approach to identify client needs and deliver comprehensive financial advice and solutions, collaborating with core banking and investment partners.

Requirements

Display confidence working as a self-starter in a sales role
Build strong client relationships through effective communication and collaboration
Display a proactive mindset and effective time management
Demonstrate a results-driven growth mindset and prioritize client interests
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 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, including registering with the federal registry system and submitting to required background checks

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree and/or a minimum of one year of work experience
Learns and adapts to new technology or applications
Executes multiple tasks simultaneously

Responsibilities

Obtain Securities Industry Essentials [SIE], Series 7, and Series 66 Exams within 120 days
Provide client service support to Financial Advisors (FAs)
Support enterprise strategic objectives, operational excellence goals, and client advocacy within the FA’s business
Customize solutions based on specific client needs
Serve as the most frequent point of contact within Merrill to address all service needs of clients
Act as a resource for FAs on the team
Progress into the next stage of the Advisor Development Program, beginning building a book of business as a Financial Advisor trainee
Acquire, build, and manage client relationships while considering a client’s complex financial picture and guiding them with advice and solutions
Develop a book of business in order to meet and exceed established performance hurdles
Effectively prioritize and source prospective clients, capitalizing on referrals
Assess customer needs, refer customers to the appropriate internal specialists, and execute highly customized solutions to meet client needs
Recommend investment products and services that are 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 according to both a day-to-day and longer-term planning
Organize and manage resources (time, people, budget) to run a productive practice
Seek the expertise of specialists, where appropriate, to identify planning and investment strategies for a client
Complete mandated training, assessments, performance goals and continuing education requirements
Partner with Financial Advisors, Client Relationship Managers, and Market Supervision Managers on all aspects of client servicing, risk, investments, and banking products, while receiving appropriate guidance and escalating issues as needed
Provide excellent Client Service to the bank's clients through educating them on all of the bank's service and banking offerings
Ensure timeliness, accuracy, and completeness in client materials and follow up on all client and Financial Advisor (FA) requests
Assist 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
Identify, deepen, and maintain client relationships through emphasizing the bank's offerings and promoting incorporation of banking into day-to-day practices, while communicating outputs to the FA
Perform 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