Glassdoor is your free inside look at Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor interview questions and advice. All 31 interview reviews posted anonymously by Merrill Lynch employees and interview candidates.
Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor Interview Questions & Reviews
Getting the Interview 31 Interviews
Interview Experience 27 Ratings
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Accepted Offer – Reviewed May 5, 2013
Interview Details – Online test - two in person interviews, very easy to understand motivations
Helpful Interview?
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No
Problem with this interview?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
No Offer – Interviewed in Nov 2012 – Reviewed Apr 4, 2013
Interview Details – I had a phone interview as the first round interview. It went very bad. The first question i got was that do i have Series 7 license. The second question , i got was that am i an international student. Afterwards they asked me two to 3 basic questions about my resume.
Interview Question – Do i have series 7 lisence Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Jan 2012 – Reviewed Mar 9, 2013
Interview Details –
5 rounds
Initial - Meet And Greet
2nd - Math exam
3rd - psychological exam
4th - Panel Review
5th - Final Interview with hiring manager
Interview Question – Explain your natural market of clients. View Answer
Negotiation Details – It all depends if you are import a book of business. If you do not have a book you start off at the low end of the scale.
Helpful Interview?
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No
Problem with this interview?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
No Offer – Reviewed Mar 8, 2013
Interview Details – First step was the FIAT exam, their simple math and economics test. Next was their personality exam. Then I had 2 phone interviews with a national HR rep and then a local HR rep. Then I needed to fill out some complaince forms. I passed all those and my actual face to face interviews started. First was with their training VP. He said he would be recommending me to go on with the interview process and meet the branch manager. I met the branch manager a month later. He informed me that there was only 1 position available. I rec'd a letter from BOA HR stating that they would be going with another candidate. I am in the process of asking their HR if I can be considered for another office in my area since I was able to get to the last interview in their interview process.
Interview Question – In your prior job that was of the same type of position, what do you feel you could have done to correct any mistakes and get more sales Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
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No
Problem with this interview?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
No Offer – Interviewed in Columbia, MD – Reviewed Mar 5, 2013
Interview Details – I applied through contact and was then given a person's email address to contact. I then had to take two online test the first was a math/ econ exam and the second one was a behavioral exam. After this I had a phone interview then an in person interview. This was all well and good but it seemed like there was no interest at the in person interview which was annoying because I wasn't sure why I was there. They seemed to have no interest because I was right out of college and had no sales experience.
Interview Question – None of the questions were really difficult but they were just assessing my personality. It was very strange and there seemed to be no interest from the beginning due to the fact that I had no sales experience. Wasn't really sure why they let it get that far in the first place if that was the case. Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
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No
Problem with this interview?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Accepted Offer – Reviewed Feb 1, 2013
Interview Details – I interned with ML during my senior year of college. That led to a job offer by the end of the internship. In the interview they ask you to put together a business plan.
Interview Question – Dont really remember much from it. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – No negotiating
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in May 2011 – Reviewed Feb 1, 2013
Interview Details – The first step was to interview with the Associate Director and Director. Their questions were mostly about character and very little about financial expertise. What school activities you were involved in, charities... Then you will be asked to take a math and economics test. You should study for these. If all goes well, you will be asked to come up with a business plan and you will discuss it on an interview with a couple of senior FA's. If they like you, you will defend your business plan with a team of managers from different branches.
Interview Question – Tell us about your "low hanging fruit". The people close to you who you can immediately get as clients. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – They have three tiers.1) Lower base-higher commission-lower hurdles 2) higher base- lower commission-higher hurdles 3) highest base-lowest commission-highest hurdles.
Helpful Interview?
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No
Problem with this interview?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Pensacola, FL Nov 2008 – Reviewed Jul 10, 2012
Interview Details –
was referred by another FA in the company.
I had 1:1 interview with director at starbucks
I had a breakfast interview with manager and trainee coach. Felt like I was being asked question after question and was nervous if I would get hired.
I had to take the series 7, series 66 and insurance license and pass them all before you can start prospecting.
Interview Question – Do you think you know enough people to bring in over $15 million in your first 2 years here? View Answer
Negotiation Details – If you ask for more money as a trainee than you have less time to graduate from the program. Once you graduate you are on 100% commission.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in New York, NY Jan 2010 – Reviewed Mar 6, 2012
Interview Details – Was very thorough and intense. I met with both partners of the team, the branch manager and the hiring manager.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in New York, NY Feb 2012 – Reviewed Mar 4, 2012
Interview Details – The interviewers include Vice Presidents, Managing Directors, etc... They know exactly the type of person they want to hire. If you are right for the job, your interview will go smoothly....if you are not a good fit, you will know very quickly. Candidates who pass the initial screening process must write a business plan. The final interview requires candidates to present the business plan to a panel of interviewers.
Interview Question – Asked to write a realistic business plan based on location, experience, background etc. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – Salary depends on experience level. Candidates with strong industry experience can negotiate a higher salary than candidates fresh out of college.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
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