Merrill Advisor Development Program - Financial Advisor: Carolina East Market

13-5674085 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc; North Carolina; On-site; USD 60,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Bank of America Corporation invites you to join the Merrill Advisor Development Program as a Financial Advisor. You will engage high-net-worth individuals, identify their needs, and deliver comprehensive recommendations aligned with their goals.

You’ll collaborate with Merrill advisor teams to grow portfolio and develop your advisory skills. The role emphasizes sourcing clients, networking, and building trust through transparent guidance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field preferred.
• 1+ year experience in financial services or sales with meeting targets.
• Series 7 & 66 licenses (63/65 in lieu) required or in progress.

Responsibilities

• Handle inbound inquiries and promote Merrill offerings to clients.
• Build and maintain relationships with high-net-worth individuals.
• Collect client data and perform KYC steps to open accounts.
• Provide investment recommendations aligned with client goals and risk profile.
• Document client interactions and opportunities in Salesforce.

Skills

Prospecting

Client relationships

Communication

Sales mindset

Team collaboration

Time management

Problem solving

Financial acumen

Active listening

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

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.

Role Specifics

As a Merrill 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.

• 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

Responsibilities

• Handles inbound inquiries from leads regarding Merrill offerings
• 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 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
• Executes multiple tasks simultaneously

Skills

• 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
• Trading

Compliance & Registration

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.

Shift & Hours

Shift: 1st shift (United States of America) Hours Per Week: 40

Additional Information

Privacy Statement: https://careers.bankofamerica.com/en-us/privacy-noticeAt Bank of America, we are guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better through the power of every connection. Responsible Growth is how we run our company and how we deliver for our clients, teammates, communities and shareholders every day. One of the keys to driving Responsible Growth is being a great place to work for our teammates around the world. We’re devoted to being a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone. We hire individuals with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences and invest heavily in our teammates and their families by offering competitive benefits to support their physical, emotional, and financial well-being. Bank of America believes both in the importance of working together and offering flexibility to our employees. We use a multi-faceted approach for flexibility, depending on the various roles in our organization. Working at Bank of America will give you a great career with opportunities to learn, grow and make an impact, along with the power to make a difference.Partnering Locally Learn about some of the ways Bank of America is making a difference in the communities we serve.Global Impact Learn about the six areas that guide Bank of America’s efforts to help make financial lives better for customers, clients, communities and our teammates.Opportunity and Inclusion Each employee brings unique skills, background and opinions. We see opportunity and inclusion as our platform for innovation and a key component in our success.Our Values Learn about our four values that represent what we believe.Pay Transparency: https://careers.bankofamerica.com/en-us/pay-transparency