Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor Interview Questions & Reviews
Updated May 17, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
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Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 20 ratings |
Interview Experience [?] Based on 20 ratings
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| 11–20 of 20 Merrill Lynch Interviews | Sort by |
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Posted May 8, 2011
3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Oct 2009 (took a day)
We held the interview off of premises over a cup of coffee. It felt informal as it was just a discussion but in retrospect, I see the value of why it was done this way. The manager wanted to make sure that you had the ability to build rapport, present yourself and a legit business plan, and close the sale (selling yourself). These are the skills you need to get off to a quick start in this business and it was the ideal forum for it. Some companies will make you take personality tests and screening tests to make sure you have the ability to pass the required licensing exams (series 7, 66, and state insurance licensing).
Interview Questions
Other Details
I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Skills Test, a Personality Test and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Posted Apr 6, 2011
4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Sep 2010 in Irving, TX (took 2 weeks)
If you fail any of the tests you are declined the opportunity to continue interviewing.
The Personality test is a beating in a half. Its ridiculous and asks such meaningless questions over and over.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
fair-- $49,999 salary b/c over 50k you are in a new ranking of sales needed.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Background Check, a Personality Test, a Skills Test, a Presentation and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Posted Jan 18, 2011
3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Apr 2010 (took 4 weeks)
Phone interview. Interview with director. Interview with trainee program managers. Final interview with director and senior management. Given offer by phone few days later.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
Fair initial offer, accepted.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Posted Sep 17, 2010
3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Jun 2010 in San Jose, CA (took 3 days)
Met with the office manager 3 times. she seemed to be checking me for weird personality habits!! Good: she was also producer, so knew what she was talking about. Coin: office seemed small, but there was some amount of camradarie. Tehre was not much explanation about the PMD program, which seemed strange since I only found out when i received the offer. have not registered for DEc-Jan dates yet, but it woul dbe good to include those rating here. finally, the 2 diagnostic tests you have to take before being hired are quite the killers....beware, don't be overconfident! its a biut like the gmat:)
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, an IQ/Intelligence Test and a Skills Test.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Posted Sep 9, 2010
2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Sep 2010 in Colorado Springs, CO (took 2 weeks)
My process is a bit different due to the fact that I am already fully licensed. So for others, it may be longer.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
I am still in the process, but I have an idea of what they may offer. If it falls within that range I'll be happy.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Background Check, a Personality Test and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Posted Aug 13, 2010
4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Declined Offer
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Interviewed Aug 2010 in Cleveland, OH (took 3+ weeks)
I have a degree in Psychology and had very little luck applying to jobs via search engines. I decided to go into ML on my own and ask to speak to a hiring director. I had a sit-down on the spot for roughly an hour and a half, at which point I was asked to take a skills and personality test. After passing, I was offered a position.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a Personality Test, a Skills Test, a Presentation, a Group/Panel Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Posted May 24, 2010
3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed May 2010 in Los Angeles, CA (took 3 months)
Overall a very relaxed culture. Surprisingly, the office environment and manager seemed friendier and less arrogant as I've previously experienced two years ago when Interviewed. The reason why I didn't take the offer was because their sales manager cared less about developing the new adviser, but rather the urgency for the new adviser to transfer existing book of business. I believe all this is due to the merge with BOA
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Group/Panel Interview, a 1:1 Interview and a Phone Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Posted May 19, 2010
1.0
Very Easy Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Jan 2008 in Las Vegas, NV (took 1 week)
Scheculed an interview with the Managing Director of the complex. He asked me why i wanted to work for Merrill Lynch, about my previous experience as an advisor and what ym goals were. He then essentially discuessed why the company was a good place to work and why I should want to work there.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
I was offered a position over the phone about a week after my initail interview and accepted the position without negotiations.
Other Details
I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Posted Feb 1, 2010
3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Declined Offer
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Interviewed Jan 2008 in Detroit, MI (took 3 weeks)
3 interviews: 1 with Office Manager, another with one of the top Financial Advisors in the office, and final one with the District Manager. Each lasted around 30-45 minutes. There was also a multiple choice test, which covered everything from basic math-type problems to economics questions, to basic investment questions.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, an IQ/Intelligence Test, a Skills Test and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Posted Nov 24, 2009 — 3 of 3 people found this helpful
4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Aug 2008 (took 2 weeks)
I had a buddy that I went to B-school with send my resume to the Sales Manager. He sent me an email and invited me to an information session that they were having a local country club. I liked the session and the Sales Manager called a few days later to set up a face-to-face in his office. The first interview was really a get to know each other interview. He invited me to come back the next week for a series of interviews and to take a skills test. He called me a day later and said that he wanted me to come with a business plan consisting of how I was going to gather $30 million in assets in 3 years. Not a small task!!! When I showed up for the next series of interviews, I was given a skills test that all ML'ers have to take and pass. I never found out my exact score, but a secretary took me to the Sales Manager's office where we talked about my business plan and proceeded to do some role playing. He wrapped up the interview with some pointers on how I could improve and said that he would be in touch. 2 days later, he called asked to come by. It was then that he presented and offer and I accepted. The Sales Manager was really the one who sold me on the position. He was very gracious and professional. I instantly liked him. The staff was cordial and professional.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
I was able to negotiate an increase in base salary. If you have a graduate degree you will be offered the middle tier which is adequate. They pay the big bucks to brokers who are coming from other firms and have an established book of business. My best advice would be to realize that this is a sales position. Don't count on using your MBA. Also remember that the production hurdles ramp up in a hurry despite the current market environment. If you like sales, this is the position for you.
Other Details
I got the interview through an Employee Referral and the interview consisted of a Background Check, a Skills Test and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?


