Merrill Advisor Development Program - Financial Advisor: Carolina East Market

Bank of America; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Bank of America’s Merrill Wealth Management is offering an Advisor Development Program to transition into a Financial Advisor role. You will work with high-net-worth clients, build relationships, and deliver comprehensive recommendations aligned with goals and time horizons.

You will collaborate with Merrill Financial Advisor Teams, complete mandated training, and grow a book of business while balancing growth and compliance in a structured program.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and/or one year of financial services or sales experience.
• Series 7 & 66 (63 & 65 in lieu of 66) licenses are required.
• Ability to source clients through prospecting and networking.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills; ability to build trust.

Responsibilities

• Developing a book of business to meet performance hurdles.
• Source prospects, referrals, and refer clients to internal specialists.
• Recommend investments aligned with client objectives, time horizon and risk profile.
• Document client interactions in Salesforce and manage client accounts.
• Collaborate with banking and investment partners to provide comprehensive advice.

Skills

Client relationship building

Prospecting

Communication skills

Negotiation

Team collaboration

Time management

Tech literacy

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

About Merrill Wealth Management

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.

Advisor Development Program

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

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

Program Support

• 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.

Day‑to‑Day 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

Key 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 IntelligenceReferral Management
• Trading

Additional Information

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

Company Culture & Benefits

At 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.

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