Merrill Advisor Development Program - Financial Advisor: Chicago Metro Market

Bank of America • Chicago, IL

5d • $80,000 - $90,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Merrill Advisor Development Program is designed for individuals making a career transition and pursuing a career as a Financial Advisor. The Financial Advisor works with high-net-worth individuals to identify needs, develop relationships, review financial goals, and deliver comprehensive recommendations aligned with the goals of existing and prospective clients. The role offers collaboration and mentorship from Merrill Financial Advisor teams to support experience and portfolio growth.

The position involves building a book of business, sourcing and developing prospective clients, assessing customer needs, making referrals to internal specialists, and recommending suitable investment products and services. The Financial Advisor also manages client follow-up, prospecting, compliance, administrative work, and professional development while organizing resources to run a productive practice. The role handles inbound inquiries, gathers client profile information using standard KYC procedures, services accounts, and documents interactions and opportunities in Salesforce.

The position is based at Bank of America Tower Chicago, and Merrill maintains an in-office culture with role-specific attendance requirements. It is a first-shift role scheduled for 40 hours per week. Compensation is an annualized salary of $80,000 to $90,000, with offers based on experience, education, and skill set. The role is eligible for a formulaic incentive plan and benefits, including paid time off. SAFE Act registration and the associated background check and registration process are required.

Requirements

• Currently holds Series 7 and Series 66 licenses, or Series 63 and Series 65 licenses 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 investment-industry experience, 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 the ability to quickly build trust and credibility.
• 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 demonstrated ability to source clients through prospecting and networking.
• Ability to work in an environment where the majority of compensation is tied to performance.
• Strong follow-through skills.
• Computer and technical literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required SAFE Act registration and complete the required background check and registration process.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Learns and adapts to new technology or applications.
• Ability to execute multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Skills in business acumen, business development, oral communications, prospecting, wealth planning, analytical thinking, client experience branding, client investments management, portfolio analysis, risk management, active listening, client solutions advisory, emotional intelligence, referral management, and trading.

Responsibilities

• Develop a book of business to meet and exceed established performance hurdles.
• Prioritize prospective-client sourcing, capitalize on referrals, assess customer needs, refer customers to appropriate internal specialists, and execute customized solutions.
• Recommend suitable investment products and services based on clients’ objectives, resources, time horizon, risk profile, and preferences.
• Balance investment growth, referral activities, customer follow-up, prospect building, administrative compliance, and personal development through day-to-day and longer-term planning.
• Organize and manage time, people, and budget to run a productive practice.
• Seek specialists’ expertise, where appropriate, to identify client planning and investment strategies.
• Complete mandated training, assessments, performance goals, and continuing education requirements.
• Handle inbound inquiries from leads regarding Merrill offerings.
• 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 an interim Financial Advisor by recommending suitable investment products and services and servicing client accounts.
• Accurately document client interactions and opportunities in Salesforce.
• Participate in training and onboarding, one-on-one coaching, client reviews and presentations, and collaboration with banking and investment partners.

Benefits

• Benefits eligibility.
• Paid time off.
• Access to resources and support for employees.
• Formulaic incentive plan eligibility, with incentive opportunities potentially monthly, quarterly, and/or annual and earned based on performance against defined metrics.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed