Client Service 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 Investment News 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.

The Position:

The Client Service Associate is a key role that ensures excellence in customer service. This person manages client interactions and maintains the highest level of confidentiality and discretion in all business matters to complete appropriate paperwork in a professional and timely manner.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain solid relationships with clients.
• Assist with scheduling client appointments for advisor.
• Investigate and resolve various administrative matters impacting the client’s overall situation, to include: abandoned property issues, cost basis determination, account and transaction history as needed, identification of fees assessed, resolution of corporate actions, and any other activity or issue needing attention.
• Provide operational support for all existing and new clients including but not limited to:

· Account transfers

· Move money requests

· Branch check deposits to client accounts

· Conversions

· Beneficiary updates

· Estate Processing

· Process and Manage all the new and existing annuity (custodian system) and life policies

· Alternative Investment Orders

• Perform necessary client transactions upon request. Research and resolve client inquiries, return all client calls, and ensure client satisfaction at all times.
• Review and resolve client account related issues with custodian(s).
• Proactive follow-up with clients to confirm account updates, paperwork, and check receipt.
• Meet with clients when applicable for new client forms signatures and processing.
• Review notes from client meetings and complete action items.
• Deposit physical checks received at branch via remote check deposit tool.
• Track and document all account changes in Salesforce CRM accurately and in a timely manner.
• Review account transactions daily to monitor trade requests placed, confirm deposits posted, transfers received, confirm client withdraw requests sent, etc.
• Set-up new client online account access and assist existing clients with online account access.
• Maintain Required Minimum Distributions.
• Submit & follow-up on advisory trade requests with Merit Investment Team.
• Document all communication & interactions with clients and prospects and Processing managers in Salesforce CRM in a timely manner.
• Work closely with the Processing Manager.
• Maintain paperless client files on our cloud‐based system.
• Keeping advisor(s) book of business updated within the custodian systems, Salesforce & Orion.
• Collaborate with the Client Service team across all branches to keep-up with changes at custodians and develop and improve systems and processes.
• Resolve account-related compliance requests.
• Track & submit insurance licensing, renewal and appointments.
• Maintain & submit branch compliance…