Regional Team Leader 

Department: Client Service/Operations Department 

Employment Status: Full-Time  

FLSA Status: Exempt 

Location: Issaquah or Tacoma, WA 

The Company: 

Merit Financial Advisors 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 47 locations across the country, Merit balances tactical advice with innovative strategy. Our 200 plus 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 InvestmentNews 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 Regional Team Leader is a key role that ensures excellence in client service. This person manages client interactions and maintains the highest level of confidentiality and discretion in all business matters. This position requires continued, consistent, and clear communication with clients, wealth managers and team members to provide necessary and ongoing assistance. Measurement of success for this role would be that the Regional Team Leader makes independent decisions and is also the primary contact for clients and branch operations team, so that the advisor is not involved in operational responsibilities. Responsibilities include operations team leadership, project management and client service functions. This position involves working closely with the area regional operations director to ensure the region is providing consistent service to the team. 

Responsibilities: 

• Lead and mentor the Operations team members, including Branch Office Administrator(s) and client service/relationship managers. 
• Assists Regional Operations Director, Wealth Managers, and clients in the role as a client service manager. 
• Assist Regional Director as requested. 
• Responsible for maintaining & submitting branch compliance files quarterly. 
• Manages all resources required for business, including technology and branch vendors. 
• Serve as point-of-contact with Building Maintenance for any office servicing needs. 
• Help coordinate technology needs of the branch. 
• Manages relationships with external resource providers for branch. 
• Responsible for team’s personal development plans (PDP) conversations  
• Collaborates with branch and regional team members as necessary to handle challenges or implement improvements. 
• Lead branch operations meetings and occasionally regional meetings. 
• Ensures that all team members are looking for ways to systematize the business to increase efficiency. 
• Coordinate and train new employees and train on industry updates. 
• 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. 
• Troubleshoot, research, rely and engage with custodians to limit issues that may impact the client experience, this may require exercising discretion to find solutions and determine resources. 
• Ability to answer questions regarding forms, provide guidance and explain complex industry terminology, processes and set expectations that the client can easily understand 
• Provide operational assistance 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 (LPL Annuity Order Entry 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. 
• Main contact of client emails or phone calls, ability to respond to clients with answers, solutions and guidance 
• Proactive follow-up with clients for RMDS, confirm account updates, paperwork, check receipt and touch base calls 
• 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. 
• 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. 
• 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. ● Handle miscellaneous operational activities and projects  ● Participate in prospect and client events. 

 Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business or finance 
• A minimum of 5-7 years in client service for a wealth management firm. 
• FINRA S6 or S7 and S63/S65 or 66 
• Previous experience working on Fidelity, LPL or Schwab platforms (preferred) 
• Excellent knowledge of the securities industry’s rules & regulations 
• Proficient computer skills (ability to access email and the Internet) and proficiencies in Outlook, Word, Excel, and Salesforce are desired. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Outstanding teamwork and time management skills. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills 
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and operate in tight deadlines. 
• Strong team-oriented mentality with a desire to achieve personal and company performance goals.  
• Ability to interact with clients and team members in a professional and respectful manner.  
• Detail-oriented and self-motivated. 
• Curiosity and ingenuity to help implement new client‐related technology solutions as well as creatively build and maintain methods and procedures of the company. 

Salary + Benefits: 

• $75,000 - $95,000 BOE 
• Medical Insurance   
• Dental/Vision Insurance    
• Life & Personal Accident Insurance  
• Short-term Disability Insurance    
• Long-term Disability Insurance   
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA) or Dependent Care FSA     
• 401(k) Plan with company matching 
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays  

Best Places To Work for Financial Advisors 2018-2023: Best Places to Work for Financial Advisors 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 – Recognized firms were required to be a registered investment advisor (RIA) that has been in business at least one year and having a minimum of 15 full-time/part-time employees. The assessment consisted of a questionnaire on benefits and policies completed by human resources staff along with an engagement & satisfaction survey completed by a minimum of 40% of staff. 50 firms were selected for this award from an undisclosed list of submissions. There was no charge to be included in this award listing. 

Georgia Fast 40 2019 and 2022: The Georgia Fast 40 for 2019 and 2022 was awarded by the Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. To be eligible companies must be for profit and headquartered in Georgia and the most recent year-end revenues ranging from $15 million to $500 million and have three years of verifiable revenue and employment growth. 

Inc 5000 2019, 2020, 2021, & 2022: The Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index, which consists of more than 5000 companies, represents virtually all of the capitalization of the entire U.S. stock market.