Advisor Development Program - Financial Solutions Advisor Trainee (Centralized) - Northbrook, IL

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.

As a Financial Solutions Advisor within the centralized segment of the Advisor Development Program, your journey begins by obtaining your Securities Industry licenses, where you receive dedicated and personalized classes for your Securities Industry Essentials [SIE], Series 7 and Series 66 Exams. Once you obtain your licenses, you will be taught the foundational skills needed to be an advisor – from acquiring, building and managing client relationships to considering a client’s complex financial picture and guiding them with advice and solutions to help them live their best financial lives, all while humanizing financial interactions. You will then join the centralized team as a Financial Solutions Advisor.

The Financial Solutions Advisors in the centralized segment are phone-based licensed advisors (obtaining series 7 and 66 required) that provide clients with holistic financial advice and guidance by identifying broader product and service solutions that meet their investment, savings and liability management solutions. FSA’s demonstrate knowledge of investments and financial markets and apply key principles appropriate to the individual client's investment needs. Additionally, they align Merrill and Bank of America products and services where appropriate.  We will equip you with everything you need, as you move through the stages of development and move into the Merrill Financial Advisor role.

During this stage of your journey, you will receive the necessary training and guidance through a defined path to become the financial advisor you want to be. You will have the opportunity to work with both affluent and high net worth clients, identifying needs, developing relationships, reviewing investment goals, and preparing investment recommendations that align with the goals of both existing and prospective clients. Once you have honed your skills and demonstrated success as an FSA, you typically will progress into the next stage of training and development as a Merrill Financial Solutions Advisor (MFSA).  This role within the Advisor Development Program provides the opportunity to pursue a career within Merrill Wealth Management.  

The Academy will support you along the way with dedicated programs, tools and resources throughout your career journey. 

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 Academy managers who are invested in your success.
• Grow your business knowledge by using a defined consultative approach with clients to systematically identify client needs and appropriate solutions.
• Earn your Security Industry Essentials (SIE), Series 7 and Series 66 licenses (63 & 65 accepted, in lieu of 66) though structured lessons and dedicated study time. You must obtain your SIE within 60 days of being hired & your Series 7 & 66 within 120 Days - a requirement for the role.
• Build your network. Starting at a financial center, you’ll interact with banking customers, small business owners and higher net worth clients alike. You’ll be able to leverage our relationships with one out of two households in the U.S. to help eventually grow your business.
• Provide end-to-end comprehensive advice , deliver client reviews/presentations with confidence and recommend strategies to help clients achieve their financial goals and life priorities.
• Collaborate with core banking and investment partners. Connect clients to all of the solutions we provide through Bank of America and Merrill to meet virtually all of their financial needs.

As an Advisor Development Program Financial Solutions Advisor in the centralized segment you can look forward to

• Unlimited potential for financial growth.
• A strong referral base from across the business through our relationship with one in every two households.
• Managing a portfolio of clients by providing exceptional client care with industry leading products, services, and education.
• Robust marketing support to reach wider audiences with greater appeal. 
• Ongoing professional development to deepen your skills and optimize your practice as the industry evolves and changes.
• Opportunities to connect with experts including small business consultants, mortgage lenders and investment advisors.

We’re a culture that

• Believes in responsible growth and has a proven dedication to supporting the communities we serve.
• Provides continuous training and developmental opportunities to help people achieve their goals, whatever their background or experience.
• Believes diversity makes us stronger, so we can reflect, connect to, and meet the diverse needs of our clients and customers around the world.
• Is committed to advancing our tools, technology, and ways of working. We always put our clients first to meet their evolving needs.

Required Qualifications:

• Displays confidence working in a sales role
• Builds strong client relationships through effective communication and collaboration
• Displays a proactive mindset and effective time management
• Demonstrates a results-driven mindset and prioritizes client interests
• Identifies appropriate client solutions through application of learnings and new information
• Applies relevant regulatory due diligence in daily activities and creating long-term client strategies

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

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 this position requires SAFE Act registration, employees are required to register and to submit to the required SAFE Act background check and registration process.

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