Merrill Advisor Development Program - Financial Advisor: Western NY Market
About The Position
The Merrill Advisor Development Program is designed for individuals making a career transition who want to become Financial Advisors. In this role, you will work with high-net-worth individuals to identify needs, build relationships, review financial goals, and provide comprehensive recommendations for existing and prospective clients. You will collaborate with and receive mentorship from Merrill Financial Advisor Teams while building experience and promoting portfolio growth. The role involves developing a book of business, sourcing prospective clients, using referrals, assessing customer needs, and recommending suitable investment products and services. You will balance business development, client follow-up, investment growth, compliance, and professional development while organizing the resources needed to run a productive practice. You will also complete required training, assessments, performance goals, and continuing education. The position handles inbound inquiries about Merrill offerings, explains Merrill and Bank of America capabilities, gathers client profile information and follows KYC procedures to open accounts as appropriate, and serves as an interim Financial Advisor. Client interactions and opportunities must be documented accurately in Salesforce. The position is subject to SAFE Act registration and the associated background check and registration requirements.
Requirements
- Currently holds Series 7 and Series 66 licenses, or Series 63 and Series 65 in lieu of Series 66.
- At least one year of experience in the financial services industry and/or a sales environment where goals were met or exceeded.
- At least one year of experience in the investments industry, including investment training and in-depth knowledge of investment products and services.
- Ability to engage with and influence others.
- Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills and ability to build trust and credibility quickly.
- Ability to assess needs and recommend appropriate solutions or interventions.
- Ability to work collaboratively on a team and with key partners.
- Ability to listen and probe for clarity and understanding.
- Goal- and results-oriented approach.
- Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to source clients through prospecting and networking.
- Ability to work in an environment where most compensation is tied to performance.
- Strong follow-through skills.
- Computer and technical literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
- High school diploma, GED, secondary school diploma, or equivalent.
- Must satisfy SAFE Act registration, background check, and registration requirements.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree.
- At least one year of financial services industry or sales experience.
- Ability to learn and adapt to new technology or applications.
- Ability to execute multiple tasks simultaneously.
Responsibilities
- Develop and grow a book of business to meet and exceed established performance hurdles.
- Source prospective clients, capitalize on referrals, assess customer needs, refer customers to appropriate internal specialists, and execute customized solutions.
- Recommend suitable investment products and services based on prospects’ and clients’ objectives, resources, time horizon, risk profile, and preferences.
- Balance investment growth, referral activity, customer follow-up, prospect development, administrative compliance, and personal development.
- Organize and manage time, people, and budget to run a productive practice.
- Consult specialists as appropriate to identify planning and investment strategies for clients.
- Complete mandated training, assessments, performance goals, and continuing education requirements.
- Handle inbound inquiries from leads regarding Merrill offerings and position the capabilities of Merrill and Bank of America.
- Collect client profile data and follow standard KYC procedures to open accounts as appropriate.
- Serve as interim Financial Advisor, making suitable investment recommendations and servicing client accounts.
- Accurately document client interactions and opportunities in Salesforce.
- Collaborate with core banking and investment partners to connect clients with relevant Bank of America and Merrill solutions.
- Deliver client reviews and presentations and recommend strategies to help clients pursue financial goals and life priorities.
Benefits
- Industry-leading benefits.
- Access to paid time off.
- Formulaic incentive plan eligibility, with incentives based on performance against defined metrics.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
