Merrill Advisor Development Program - Financial Advisor: Chicago West Market

Advisor Development Program – Financial Advisor

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

• Develop a book of business to meet and exceed established performance hurdles.
• Prioritize sourcing prospective clients, capitalizing on referrals, assessing customer needs, and referring customers to the appropriate internal specialists.
• Recommend investment products and services suitable for prospects based on objectives, resources, time horizon, risk profile, and preferences.
• Balance investment growth, referral activities, customer follow‑up, prospect building, administrative compliance, and personal growth and development.
• Organize and manage resources (time, people, budget) to run a productive practice.
• Seek expertise of specialists when appropriate to identify planning and investment strategies for a client.
• Complete mandated training, assessments, performance goals, and continuing education requirements.
• Handle inbound inquiries from leads regarding Merrill offerings, collecting client profile data, and opening accounts per KYC procedures when appropriate.
• Document all client interactions and opportunities within Salesforce accurately.

• Series 7 and Series 66 (or 63 & 65 in lieu of 66) licenses.
• Minimum one year of experience in the financial service industry or a sales environment where goals were met or exceeded.
• Minimum one year of experience in the investments industry with in‑depth knowledge of investment products and services.
• Proven ability to engage with and influence others.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship‑building skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to quickly build trust and credibility.
• Ability to assess needs and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Collaborative teamwork skills and partnership with key stakeholders.
• Strong follow‑through and communication competence.
• Experience with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent financial services or sales experience.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and proven ability to source clients through prospecting and networking.
• Adaptability to new technologies or applications.
• Ability to execute multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Business acumen and analytical thinking.
• Wealth planning and portfolio analysis skills.
• Client experience and advisory capabilities.
• Emotional intelligence and referral management.
• Trading knowledge not required but beneficial.

• Position may require SAFE Act registration and background check; failure to obtain and maintain registration may result in immediate termination.
• Pay range: $80,000.00 – $90,000.00 annualized salary, plus a formulaic incentive plan based on performance metrics.
• Benefits include industry‑leading paid time off, wellness resources, and support for physical, emotional, and financial well‑being.