Merrill Advisor Development Program - Financial Advisor: West Central Michigan Market

Bank of America Corporation; Grand Rapids; On-site; CAD 78,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

Bank of America Corporation is seeking candidates for the Merrill Advisor Development Program in the West Central Michigan market. The role focuses on developing a book of business, meeting sales goals, and delivering comprehensive investment advice to high-net-worth clients.

You will be mentored by Merrill Financial Advisor teams, collaborate across banking and investment partners, and complete ongoing training to build a thriving advisory practice.

Qualifications

• Currently holds FINRA licenses (Series 7 & 66) or equivalents.
• Minimum 1 year in financial services or sales with targets.
• Knowledge of investments and advisory products.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to source clients and network effectively.

Responsibilities

• Develop a book of business to meet performance hurdles.
• Prioritize prospective clients and leverage referrals to grow relationships.
• Recommend investment products aligned with client objectives and risk profile.
• Balance growth with client service, compliance, and personal development.
• Document client interactions and opportunities in Salesforce.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Prospecting

Relationship building

Entrepreneurial mindset

Goal oriented

Team collaboration

Active listening

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

Merrill Advisor Development Program - Financial Advisor: West Central Michigan Market

Open Full-time Pay not stated

Open — Bank of America has a posting for this job. Posted 5 Nov 2026.

This posting

Posted 5 Nov 2026 · Full-time · Pay not stated

About this job

Job Description:

Merrill Wealth Management is a leading provider of comprehensive wealth management and investment products and services for individuals, companies, and institutions. Merrill Wealth Management is one of the largest businesses of its kind in the world specializing in goals-based wealth management, including planning for retirement, education, legacy, and other life goals through investment advice and guidance.

Merrill’s Financial Advisors and Wealth Management Client Associates help clients pursue the life they envision through a personal relationship with their advisory team committed to their needs. We believe trust comes from transparency. Our trusted advisory teams are equipped with access to the investment insights of Merrill coupled with the banking convenience of Bank of America.

Merrill is committed to an in-office culture with specific requirements for office-based attendance and which allows for an appropriate level of flexibility for our teammates and businesses based on role-specific considerations. At Merrill, we empower you to bring your whole self to work. We value diversity in our thoughts, business, and within our employees and clients. Our Wealth Management team represents an array of different backgrounds and bring their unique perspectives, ideas and experiences, helping to create a work community that is culture driven, resilient, results focused and effective.

The Advisor Development Program is designed for individuals excited to make a career transition and follow their passion of becoming a Financial Advisor.

Job Description:

As an Advisor Development Program- Financial Advisor, you will be responsible for working with high-net worth individuals identifying needs, developing relationships, reviewing financial goals, and delivering comprehensive recommendations that align with the goals of both existing and prospective clients. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with and be mentored by Merrill Financial Advisor Teams to build upon your experience to promote portfolio growth.

The Merrill Advisor Development Program Financial Advisor engages in:

• Developing a book of business in order to meet and exceed established performance hurdles
• Effectively prioritizes sourcing prospective clients, capitalizing on referrals, assessing customer needs, referring customers to the appropriate internal specialists, and executing highly customized solutions to meet client needs
• Recommending investment products and services that are suitable for prospects based on their objectives, resources, time horizon, risk profile and preferences
• Balancing 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
• Organizing and managing resources (time, people, budget) to run a productive practice
• Seeking the expertise of specialists, where appropriate, to identify planning and investment strategies for a client
• Completing mandated training, assessments, performance goals and continuing education requirements

We’ll help you:

• Build a successful career at Bank of America through world-class training and on-boarding programs that set you up for success.
• Get training and one-on-one coaching from our-award winning Academy at Bank of America and local leadership who are invested in your success.
• Grow your business knowledge by using a defined consultative approach to systematically identify client needs and appropriate solutions.
• Provide end-to-end comprehensive advice, deliver client reviews/presentations with confidence and recommend strategies to help achieve their financial goals and life priorities.
• Collaborate with core banking and investment partners. Connect to all the solutions we provide through Bank of America and Merrill to meet virtually all their financial needs.

Responsibilities:

• Handles inbound inquiries from leads regarding Merrill offering
• Positions the extensive capabilities of Merrill and Bank of America
• Collects the necessary client profile data, following standard KYC procedures to open account(s) as appropriate
• Serves as interim Financial Advisor, providing recommendation of investment products and services that are suitable for prospects and clients based on their objectives, resources, time horizon, risk profile, and preferences as well as servicing client accounts
• Documents all client interactions and opportunities within Salesforce accurately

Required Qualifications:

• Currently holds Series 7 & 66 (63 & 65 in lieu of 66) licenses.
• Minimum of one year experience working in the financial service industry and/or a sales environment where goals were met or exceeded.
• Minimum of one year experience in the investments industry, including investment training and in-depth knowledge of investment products and services.
• Proven ability to engage with and influence others
• 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/interventions
• Proven ability to work collaboratively on a team and with key partners
• Proven ability to listen and probe for clarity and understanding
• Goal and results oriented
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a proven ability to source clients through extensive prospecting and networking
• Ability to work in an environment where the majority of your compensation is tied to your performance
• Strong follow-through skills
• Computer/technical literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and/or a minimum of one year of financial services industry or sales experience
• Learns and adapts to new technology or applications

Skills:

• Business Acumen
• Business Development
• Oral Communications
• Prospecting
• Wealth Planning
• Analytical Thinking
• Client Experience Branding
• Client Investments Management
• Client Solutions Advisory
• Referral Management
• Trading

This position is subject to SAFE Act registration requirements. Pursuant to the SAFE Act requirements, all employees engaged in residential loan mortgage originations must register with the federal registry system and remain in good standing. Since your position requires SAFE Act registration, you will be required to register and to submit to the required SAFE Act background check and registration process. Failure to obtain and/or maintain SAFE Act registration may result in your immediate termination. The following laws or regulations restrict or prohibit the hiring of individuals with certain specified criminal history for the position: FDIC; Safe Act; Loan Originators; and FINRA