Virtual Financial Advisor

Raymond James • Saint Petersburg, FL

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Investment Central, a specialized department at the Raymond James home office, provides service to Raymond James clients using an approach that mirrors most Raymond James branches. Under limited supervision, the Virtual Financial Advisor applies experience, specialized training, or certification to provide a range of financial services in a team environment, combining traditional Financial Advisor and Service Associate roles. The position focuses on customer experience for annuity contract owners and the firm’s financial advisors, and develops relationships with new clients in a call center environment. Client assistance is provided by phone on a non-advisory basis, including execution of unsolicited orders and guidance related to sales-practice activities and requirements. The role involves varied, moderately complex work requiring evaluation, originality, and judgment.

The advisor supports client portfolios and accounts, reviews and approves client activity, educates clients about investments and firm offerings, and helps ensure fiduciary processes and regulatory requirements are followed. The role also provides escalated support, assists with account opening and sales-practice oversight, places trades, investigates account issues and alerts, and collaborates with associates, advisors, branches, management, and back-office teams. The workstyle is hybrid, with travel listed as less than 25%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and at least four years of experience in the financial services industry, or an equivalent combination of experience, education, and/or training approved by Human Resources.
• At least three years of experience with variable annuities and life insurance products.
• SIE required unless an exemption or grandfathering applies.
• FINRA Series 7 required.
• FINRA Series 66, or Series 63 and Series 65, required.
• Knowledge of post-issue product details across various products; securities and banking concepts, practices, and procedures; fundamental investment concepts; banking, finance, and securities operations; and financial markets and products including annuities, UITs, structured products, alternative investments, mutual funds, and stocks.
• Organizational, time-management, prioritization, follow-up, and detail skills sufficient to handle multiple tasks and deadlines while maintaining quality.
• Ability to review trades and disbursements for potential liability, research brokerage-account queries, gather information, prepare reports and presentations, investigate irregularities, and identify portfolio gaps based on client objectives using modern portfolio theory.
• Effective client communication, questioning, listening, and customer-service skills, including the ability to gather information and convey appropriate solutions professionally and courteously.
• Ability to guide clients, financial advisors, and back-office staff on operational issues; execute instructions and seek clarification when needed; and partner with other functional areas.
• Ability to use independent judgment on monetary issues with potentially significant firm liability and assess whether products align with a client’s risk tolerance, income needs, and goals.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment with interruptions, multiple concurrent tasks, and changing priorities; maintain confidentiality; and work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships throughout the organization.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment and required software to research and prepare emails, memos, spreadsheets, and reports.

Responsibilities

• Perform timely entry of initial applications.
• Keep abreast of product changes and deadlines.
• Coach and mentor less experienced Investment Central associates.
• Work with other Virtual Financial Advisors to oversee more than $3 billion in client assets and ensure fiduciary processes and procedures are integrated with business practices to mitigate risk.
• Provide escalated support and guidance on client portfolios and customer queries.
• Inform management about client account issues that may expose the business to potential liability.
• Assist management in implementing controls and quality assurance processes to address potential liability.
• Maintain working knowledge of capital market news and its potential impact on client accounts.
• Research and interpret portfolio investments and educate clients on asset allocation and modern portfolio theory.
• Address sensitive client issues involving AML or other supervisory alerts.
• Assist clients, branches, advisors, and back-office operations with questions about the business and related departments.
• Assist with sales practices and oversight of account opening, execute unsolicited client orders, and provide guidance or supervision regarding related sales-practice activities and requirements.
• Manage, review, and approve client activity; educate and guide clients on services and products.
• Establish and manage client brokerage accounts and maintain complete client information in accordance with internal and external regulations.
• Contact clients to review portfolios, complete Investment Policy Questionnaires, provide investment information, and make suitable recommendations.
• Work to acquire additional client assets held away from the firm.
• Place trades, including large-volume trades, while performing due diligence and mitigating business risk.
• Ensure compliance with firm and regulatory policies.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits may be available.
• Life insurance may be available.
• Critical illness insurance and accident insurance may be available.
• Disability benefits may be available.
• Retirement savings may be available.
• Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and sick leave, may be available.
• Parental leave may be available.
• Specific benefits and eligibility may vary based on position and employment status.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level