Personal assistant - Anonymous employee Merrill Employee Review

Great work life balance, benefits, and compensation package in my opinion

Advisor Development Program could use some tweaks to make the program smoother for people in the last phase.

Good opportunity to get your foot in the door to an amazing industry.

I joined the industry with the goal to help clients first and foremost because I’m passionate about personal finance and long-term investing. You will absolutely be able to help a handful of clients, but due to monthly sales goals you are encouraged and pressured by upper management to prioritize your sales goals instead doing what is truly best for the client. Typical of a big wirehouse/broker-dealer. It’s all a numbers game for them. It’s sleazy. When you meet with your manager, you will be told how to be a good salesman, not a good advisor. You will not be doing true financial planning here. Your goal is to put clients into CIO portfolios that I myself wouldn’t even bother investing in. With the systems in place, you will run into so many problems that will barely even allow you to do your job in your day-to-day. As I said, it’s a good job to get your foot in the door to an amazing industry, but don’t stay in this role for longer than you have to. If you want to do true financial planning and always do what is best for the client, join an RIA.