Wealth Management Apprentice - Client Advisor Assistant Review

* Ensuring client data is correct and kept up to date. * Undertaking due diligence using internet searches. * Preparing materials for client meetings and completing documentation after meetings. * Processing documentation for client orders, ensuring it is correctly stored on client files. * Actioning client mailings. * Actioning client processes such as account openings and closings, asset transfers, payments, trades etc. * Liaising with Back Office to ensure processes are completed in a timely manner. * Providing clients with statements and other documentation about their accounts. * Playing an active role in prospecting for new clients.

Studying towards the IOC, general improvement of transferable skills especially communication (with clients).

Job can get very stressful and busy at times as you are given lots of responsibility. Programme does become a bit mundane as for some months you are just working everyday and going home with no "personal development" sessions. The good thing is that this is one of the most attractive things about this programme - it is the ONLY front office banking apprenticeship (ie dealing with actual clients). Other banking ones are all operations, compliance etc (middle and back office).

As you are the most junior person in the organization you do have to do the mundane things that no one else does not want to do. However, when the senior people have time, they do offer to go through things and teach about the financial products we offer etc. The company does encourage two meetings a year with your superior to talk about career progression, and also assigns a mentor to each employee to talk about career development.

The programme is really new, only 3 years old, so there is room for improvement in the structure of the programme. The programme is limiting in respect to exploring other areas of the business - you would have to organise this yourself. Other than that, there is a clear path upon graduating the apprenticeship.

All the apprentices have had different experience with our traing provider. Personally, I have found then to be slightly dissorgainsed as they keep sending me the wrong books and don't seem to communicate to our training manager. On the other hand, the lessons are good for learning and they even offer a personal revision session for only us apprentices - they do not do this with any other apprenticeship (as far as I am aware).

we are given a study day once a week which is good as it gives us time to go through the book without sacrificing much time. As mentioned before, we have that personal revision session which is good. Overall, the support is good.

Living and working in London is expensive so the salary does not get very far. The salary is just enough to get by, although could be higher (given what some of the bankers are earning in our teams).

The company gives us two extra days of leave to volunteer in the local community - some of the most deprived parts of London. There are many clubs you can join within the company.

Yes

Although there are many drawbacks, the apprenticeship offers a good front office banking experience. This is one of the most attractive things about this programme - it is the ONLY front office banking apprenticeship (ie dealing with actual clients). Other banking ones are all operations, compliance etc (middle and back office).

Competition is fierce - 1 place per 250 applications. You need to show good understanding of the company, good evidence of applying skills, eagerness to learn and an understanding that you may have to do mundane/admin tasks but with the bigger picture in mind.