Investment Management Specialist

Job Description:

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.

Job Description:
This job is responsible for performing specialized functions across a Financial Advisors (FAs) team, such as defining an FA's or FA team's overall investment management philosophy through portfolio analysis and performing business management and business development activities. Key responsibilities include providing operational support and quality client service through offering a full range of investment products and services across the enterprise. Job expectations include leveraging specialists and financial planning tools to deliver holistic investment solutions. This position may be responsible for the provision of residential mortgage loans, and as such, is subject to SAFE Act registration requirements. Pursuant to the SAFE Act requirements, all employees engaged in residential mortgage loan 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. Failure to obtain and/or maintain SAFE Act registration may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Investment Management Specialists are responsible for supporting the Financial Advisor(s) and/or Advisor Team(s) overall investment management philosophy through executing on portfolio analysis and sharing expertise in a wide range of investment product areas. They ensure risk profiles,goals, objectives and asset allocations are aligned and reflected properly for each client. They deliver a full range of investment products and services across the enterprise ensuring alignment to client goals and strategies while leveraging specialists and applicable investment management tools where appropriate. They partner with internalspecialists to deliver holistic investment solutions by identifying targeted investment strategies. They assist in the preparation of client performance review reports to measure progress to goals.

Responsibilities:

• Maintains an understanding of the Chief Investment Office (CIO) philosophy, proprietary planning, and investment management tools

• Monitors, analyzes, and reviews the current market environment and research portfolio recommendations

• Monitors and manages client portfolios to align with client goals, objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizons

• Reviews and manages team proprietary models to align with current market assumptions by participating in CIO and manager updates and reviewing reports and allocation updates

• Creates analytical reports for Financial Advisors to review client investment portfolio performances against market returns

• Assesses and shares pricing findings with clients to ensure understanding of the value of advice and accompanying solutions

Role Responsibilities

• Analyze and understand Merrill and third party research

• Monitor and respond to market and non-financial current events

• Effectively navigate proprietary planning and investment management tools

• Deliver investment management tools, including but not limited to investment proposal, CRC ,etc.

• Monitor and analyze book pricing internally for FA team

• Convey pricing to ensure client's understanding of the value of advice and accompanying solutions

• Deep understanding of the CIO philosophy & ongoing monitoring of strategy changes based on current market environment

• Monitor and manage client portfolios to align with client goals, objectives, risk tolerance and time horizons

• Research portfolio recommendations for Investment Committee review

• Prepare materials and coordinate weekly Investment Committee meetings

• Proactively review and manage team proprietary models to align with the Investment Committee decisions

• Manage ML One variances/enrollments/updates/withdrawals/terminations

• Serve as Primary/Lead Team Member for processing PIA trades in Portfolio

• Processing of all trades (discretionary or non-discretionary)

• Create analytical reports for FAs to review client investment portfolio performances against market returns

• Propose client recommendations/changes based on client goals, risk tolerance, time horizon and objectives

Role Requirements

• Either Series 7 and 66 licenses or Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses; must obtain all state registrations held by the Financial Advisor(s) and Advisor Team(s) they support SAFE ACT Registration

• Individuals in this role are required to maintain a Form

• ADV -2B, which provides clients details on individuals experience and educational background, along with other requirements governed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)

• Obtain and/or maintain at least one firm approved designation

• Possess and demonstrate strong communication skills

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the suite of Wealth Management products and services

• Strong analytical and portfolio management skills with the ability to identify trends and implement investment strategies to increase growth and mitigate risk

• Ability to make sound decisions by having a deep understanding of investment management best practices and policies/procedures

• Ability to identify client needs and concerns, and articulate appropriate approach to align solutions to goals in a suitable and controlled way

​​Skills:

• Causation Analysis

• Financial Management

• Investment Management

• Trading Strategy

• Trading and Investment Analysis

• Portfolio Analysis

• Portfolio Management

• Price Verification and Valuation

• Trade Monitoring

• Trading

• Client Investments Management

• Client Solutions Advisory

• Financial Analysis

• Financial Forecasting and Modeling

• Wealth Planning

Minimum Education Requirement: High School Diploma / GED / Secondary School or equivalent

Shift:

1st shift (United States of America)

Hours Per Week: 

40

Pay Transparency details

US - IL - Chicago - 110 N Wacker Dr - Bank Of America Tower Chicago (IL4110)

Pay and benefits information

Pay range

$55,000.00 - $96,000.00 annualized salary, offers to be determined based on experience, education and skill set.

Discretionary incentive eligible

This role is eligible to participate in the annual discretionary plan. Employees are eligible for an annual discretionary award based on their overall individual performance results and behaviors, the performance and contributions of their line of business and/or group; and the overall success of the Company.

Benefits

This role is currently benefits eligible. We provide industry-leading benefits, access to paid time off, resources and support to our employees so they can make a genuine impact and contribute to the sustainable growth of our business and the communities we serve.