Trader/ Investment Operations Associate

The Company:

Merit is a fast growing, pioneering financial services firm that invests heavily in the growth and development of team members. Merit seeks to establish, educate, and help individuals reach their financial goals as they transition into and experience retirement. With an unswerving commitment to excellence and reliability, Merit provides objective financial advice and believes in establishing long-lasting relationships. By offering an array of services, clients can receive tailored solutions that promote growth and help them achieve financial goals.

Merit believes in addressing the retirement challenges in America by helping clients reach financial freedom and confidence to the working population and retirees alike. This focus on comprehensive financial wellness enables us to deliver the ultimate client experience.

Headquartered in Alpharetta, GA, with 39 locations across the country, Merit balances tactical advice with innovative strategy. Our 250 hardworking employees are leaders rooted in humility and we are poised to grow. Merit is a multi-generational firm with a foundation built around servant leadership and total team leadership. We have been recognized as a “Best Places to Work” by InvestmentNews and have made the fastest growing companies list in both INC 5000 and Georgia’s Fastest 40. As we expand and work to bring our relationship-driven approach to the financial industry, we are looking for the right individuals to join our team.

Position :

To support the firm in all aspects of the investment management process through trading,investment performance attribution, model management and research. This role will provide advisors, financial planners and the client service team assistance with investment operations and analysis to increase the value proposition offered to clients.

Responsibilities :

• Primary responsibility for daily trading functions within the firm. This will include trading mutual funds, exchange traded funds, equities, and individual bonds for client accounts ensuring adherence with Merit’s trade policies and procedures as well as client investment policies
• Rebalancing Merit and advisor guided models using the Orion Eclipse system
• Understand and gain knowledge regarding the Orion Eclipse rebalancing and trading system, become familiar with Merit’s multi-custodial environment understanding each custodian’s unique set of policies and procedures for trading
• Provide service support for individual advisors so that they understand how to submit trade cases in Salesforce and interact with the trading team
• Providing general investment and operational support for the Firm’s financial advisors, financial planners, and client service team
• Conduct education sessions with advisors regarding trading procedures
• Auditing client transactions, fees, cash balances, and securities to ensure compliance with firm policies
• Work with trading team to continuously improve processes to become more efficient.
• Remain current on financial markets and world events as they pertain to risks which might affect our client accounts.
• Ability to manage and explain the Merit Investment Program offerings and models

*Please note the job responsibilities may vary, grow and change.

Salary + Benefits:

• Competitive, based on experience
• Medical Insurance
• Dental/Vision Insurance
• Life & Personal Accident Insurance 
• Short-term Disability Insurance
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA) or Dependent Care FSA
• 401(k) Plan with company matching
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays 

Best Places To Work for Financial Advisors 2018-2024: Best Places to Work for Financial Advisors 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 – Recognized firms were required to be a registered investment advisor (RIA) that has been in business at least one year and having a minimum of 15 full-time/part-time employees. The assessment consisted of a questionnaire on benefits and policies completed by human resources staff along with an engagement & satisfaction survey completed by a minimum of 40% of staff. 50 firms were selected for this award from an undisclosed list of submissions. There was no charge to be included in this award listing.

Georgia Fast 40 2019 and 2022: The Georgia Fast 40 for 2019 and 2022 was awarded by the Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. To be eligible companies must be for profit and headquartered in Georgia and the most recent year-end revenues ranging from $15 million to $500 million and have three years of verifiable revenue and employment growth.

Inc 5000 2019, 2020 & 2021: The Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index, which consists of more than 5000 companies, represents virtually all of the capitalization of the entire U.S. stock market

Compensation: Merit Financial Advisors offers competitive compensation based on experience, qualifications, location, and market data. Where required by applicable law, salary ranges will be provided during the hiring process.

• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of industry experience
• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting or Business from an accredited university
• Series 7 and Series 63 or 66
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Desire to wear multiple hats in a fast-paced, high growth company
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team environment
• Excellent written, presentation, and communication skills
• Detail oriented
• Highly observant and analytical
• World-class problem solver
• Excellent organizational skills and follow-through skills