At-Risk Persons Senior Investigator

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 that supports collaboration, engagement, and career development.  Our approach includes clear in-office expectations, while providing an appropriate level of flexibility based on role-specific responsibilities and business needs.

At Merrill, we empower you to bring your whole self to work. We value the unique perspectives in our thoughts, business, and within our employees and clients. Our Wealth Management team represents an array of different skills and experiences that individuals bring from all backgrounds and careers; whether gained through military service, community college education, or a wide range of work and life experiences. These journeys foster resilience, leadership and innovation, strengthening our workforce  and positively impact the communities we serve.

Job Description:

The Global Wealth Management (GWM) At-Risk Persons Investigator performs end-to-end investigations of suspected elder financial exploitation/ abuse of a vulnerable adult.  In this role, the Investigator conducts routine to complex investigations involving Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Consumer Investment or Private Bank clients.  Per Enterprise guidelines, clients reported for investigation are either 60 years of age and/or older, or 18 years of age and/or older and deemed to be vulnerable. 

In this client centric role, the Investigator frequently engages with the client advisory team/ the client to obtain information and gather the facts of the situation.  The Investigator will analyze and interpret information gathered from numerous Consumer and Broker Dealer databases across the Enterprise.  These details will be used to evaluate the clients’ financial patterns and history, to determine/ carry out any risk mitigation action as necessary; in order to protect the client from further exploitation/harm.  The Investigator is responsible for preparing concise reporting that captures the investigative details, and determining if the client meets specific criteria that may result in the recommendation for reporting to the appropriate State agencies.

As a subject matter expert in At-Risk Person activity, the Investigator may provide consultation and guidance to front line partners in handling specific client situations.  Additionally, Investigators may engage directly with State/Regulatory agencies as well as law enforcement. 

Key priorities for the team include conducting thorough and timely investigations, assessing appropriate risk mitigation efforts and providing guidance and expertise to front line partners in order to protect clients from further exposure to exploitation.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

·        Responsible for the investigation of potential At-Risk Person referrals pertaining to Wealth Management clients.

·        Ensures thorough, timely investigations with consistent application of At-Risk Person Investigation procedures.

·        Proficient knowledge of regulatory, reputational, operational, and legal risks encountered in the course of investigations.

·        Proficient knowledge of bank systems/technology used in the course of investigations, as well as the enterprise, businesses, products, core corporate functions and bank policies.

·        Maintains relationships with key business partners, including Wealth Management client advisory teams, Global Risk and Legal.

·        Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills, and provides consultation and guidance on investigative related issues to influence partners and outcomes.

·        Documents cases a