There are many ways to become a Financial Advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors. While one of them might fit your working style or client interaction preference better, they all aim to provide you with training to help your clients succeed financially and the potential to grow your business.
Compensation Potential:
Initially salaried, shifting to base salary + shared commission
Program Length:
2 year training program
Licensing Preparation:
Series 7 and Series 66
Training Location:
Nationwide
(includes visits to Home Office in St. Louis)
Associate Financial Advisor Program
Work with an experienced branch Financial Advisor to learn how to grow their business potential, by servicing and building existing client relationships within a team setting.
Compensation Potential:
Salaried
Program Length:
Full-time role (with a 17-week training period)
Licensing Preparation:
Series 7 and Series 66
Training Location:
Nationwide
(includes visits to Home Office in St. Louis)
Financial Relationship Advisor Program
Collaborate with other advisors and financial professionals across your branch to enhance service and identify a broad range of solutions for clients.
Compensation Potential:
Initial salaried, shifting to salary + incentives
Program Length:
Full-time role (with an 11-month training period)
Licensing Preparation:
Series 7 and Series 66
Training Location:
St. Louis, Charlotte, Salt Lake City
Phone-Based Advisor Program
Serve existing and referred perspective clients via the phone in a team-based, collaborative environment in one of our three Home Offices.
Compensation Potential:
Initial salaried, shifting to a more commission-focused model
Program Length:
17 weeks
Licensing Preparation:
Series 7 and Series 66
Training Location:
Nationwide
(includes visits to Home Office in St. Louis)
Wealth Brokerage Services New Advisor Program
Partner with experienced Financial Advisors and members of other business lines seek to deliver high-quality and wide-ranging advice within a branch or hub environment.
Compensation Potential:
Initial salaried, quickly shifting to commission-based
Program Length:
7 months
Licensing Preparation:
Series 7 and Series 66
Training Location:
Nationwide
(includes visits to Home Office in St. Louis)
Branch Financial Advisor in Training Program
Build your own stand-alone business as a solo advisor in one of our branch offices on an accelerated, aggressive timeline.
Each of our training programs are designed to help give potential Financial Advisors the tools they need to help them succeed — coaching and mentoring, hands-on learning opportunities and comprehensive training courses.
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Compensation Information
Our competitive compensation plan is designed with your personal and professional success in mind.
Licensing Period
Full salary during the Licensing and Foundations training period.
In-Program
During the first two years of production (Acceleration and Action), full salary remains in place. During Year 2 (Action), you will also begin to share commission on certain accounts where you are designated the lead relationship manager. You are eligible for a bonus upon successful completion of the program.
Benefits
Full benefits package available.end call out
Weeks 1-15: Licensing and Foundations Training
(includes visit to St. Louis with Experienced FA)
Series 7 and Series 66 exam preparation in your local branch with the help of experienced Home Office Investment Licensing Training professionals to provide coaching and monitoring assistance along the way
Introductions to your support team: Performance Coach, and Experienced Financial Advisor, Branch Manager and L&D Consultants
Introduction to business planning, the advice-based sales process, and Wells Fargo vision, values and goals that drive our culture
Production (post-licensing)
Year 1: Acceleration Phase
(includes visit to St. Louis)
Comprised of five 10-week modules focused on the core best practices that help advisors deliver superior service and advice to clients. Learning activities are designed to help you acquire knowledge, demonstrate skills and deliver business impact in each of five key areas
Includes live client observations, role plays with your Experienced Financial Advisor, regular 1:1 and group coaching sessions and interactions with actual clients
Year 2: Action Phase
(includes visit to St. Louis)
Building on the knowledge, skills and best practices developed in Year 1, this phase is designed to allow you to take on greater responsibility as the lead relationship manager on a number of existing and new client accounts, with a goal of deepening relationships and supporting the growth of the practice
Advanced curriculum and ongoing coaching to support development of business planning, best practice adoption and team-specific skills
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Compensation Information
Our competitive compensation plan is designed with your personal and professional success in mind.
Salary
Full-time salaried role.
Bonus
Opportunity for additional bonus compensation.
Benefits
Full benefits package available.end call out
Weeks 1-10: Licensing
Investment Licensing
Series 7 and Series 66 exam preparation in your local branch
Experienced Home Office Investment Licensing Training professionals provide coaching and monitoring to assist you along the way
Financial Relationship Advisor Program & Branch Manager Orientation
1.5 day St. Louis event
Understand the Financial Advisor and manager responsibilities and expectations; work together to build the Financial Advisor brand within the branch environment; refine the Financial Advisor value statement to clients and partners throughout Wells Fargo Advisors
Review Private Client Group Leadership involvement, support, and resources available
Includes learning on Client Experience; Acquisition, Transition and Service Level; Products, Systems & Tools; Client Review Prep; Portfolio Analysis (P2P); Client Contact Skills; Document/Implement
Week 17: Financial Relationship Advisor Program Implementation & Execution
4 day St. Louis workshop
In depth practice & simulation of Client Experience steps and product assessments
Expectations for next steps
Weeks 17-52: Financial Relationship Advisor Program Proficiency Support
34 week Coaching and Learning Support
Ongoing coaching to support achievement of business and individual performance goals including the review of performance reporting
Advanced curriculum to further develop product, tools and process knowledge including Insurance Licensing & Annuities and Lending and Banking Services
12-month coaching after program graduation focused on identifying solutions, uncovering new assets, communication skills, handling objections, and refining your value statement/brand
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Compensation Information
Our competitive compensation plan is designed with your personal and professional success in mind.
Salary
Full-time salaried role.
Bonus
Opportunity for additional bonus compensation.
Benefits
Full benefits package available. end call out
Weeks 1-13:
Investment Licensing and Training
Series 7 and Series 66 exam preparation
Experienced Home Office Investment Licensing Training professionals provide coaching and monitoring to assist you along the way
Additional classroom based preparation, in-person reviews and coaching sessions on specific topics
Weeks 14-19:
Functional Job Training
Consultative sales-focused program (Wells Fargo Way) with weekly in-depth training on each part of the process
“Nesting” period — live client calls with in-person support from trainers, coaches or managers
Weeks 20-44: Sales Training and Coaching
Specific skill training sessions to reinforce Wells Fargo Way consultative sales process. Contains client engagement, discovery, solutions, recommendations and closing
After training period, advisors participate in weekly goal-setting meetings with sales managers, monthly sales meetings with coaches and receive on-going sales training
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Compensation Information
Our competitive compensation plan is designed with your personal and professional success in mind.
Salary
Full-time salaried role.
Bonus
Opportunity for additional bonus compensation.
Benefits
Full benefits package available. end call out
Weeks 1-10:
Investment Licensing and Training
Series 7 and Series 66 exam preparation in your local branch
Experienced Home Office Investment Licensing Training professionals provide coaching and monitoring to assist you along the way
Weeks 11-12:
Business Development Training - Branch I
Hands-on and high-touch in-branch training experience
Perform target market research to help identify your “natural” network and gain exposure to core products and services through our e-Learning platform
Week 13:
Business Foundations - (includes visit to St. Louis)
In-depth exposure to the firm’s core products and services through our product experts
Includes small group break-outs and “hot-seat” activities to test your decision-making and reinforce your knowledge to help you develop conviction in your product recommendations
Weeks 14-16:
Branch II
In-depth suitability case studies, business development assignments and product assessments
Includes administrative training, insurance licensing, mutual fund/annuity product inventory and primary prospect planning
Week 17:
Sales and Prospecting Training - (includes visit to St. Louis)
Hands on sales and prospecting training — learn how to make suitable recommendations, build investor relationships and prepare for your first day as a Financial Advisor
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Compensation Information
Our competitive compensation plan is designed with your personal and professional success in mind.
Training Period
Full salary during the time you are training.
Post-Training
After completion, compensation shifts to a more commission-based model, dependent on production (salary will naturally decrease during this time). Enhanced commission and bonuses also available for meeting performance objectives.
Benefits
Full benefits package available.end call out
Weeks 1-10:
Investment Licensing and Training
Series 7 and Series 66 exam preparation in your local branch
Experienced Home Office Investment Licensing Training professionals provide coaching and monitoring to assist you along the way
Weeks 11-12:
Branch I
Hands-on and high-touch in-branch training experience
Perform target market research, identify your “natural” network and gain exposure to core products and services through our e-Learning platform
Week 13:
Business Foundations - (includes visit to St. Louis)
In-depth exposure to the firm’s core products and services through our product experts
Includes small group break-outs and “hot-seat” activities to test your decision-making and reinforce your knowledge to help you develop conviction in your product recommendations
Weeks 14-16:
Branch II
In-depth suitability case studies, business development assignments and product assessments
Includes administrative training, insurance licensing, mutual fund/annuity product inventory and primary prospect planning
Week 17:
Sales and Prospecting Training - (includes visit to St. Louis)
Hands on sales and prospecting training — learn how to make suitable recommendations, build investor relationships and prepare for your first day as a Financial Advisor
Weeks 18-29:
Apprentice Period
Twelve weeks designed to help advisors who are building a stand-alone business get off to a h5 start through business development activity aimed at opening new accounts
"Helping clients succeed financially” is not just a phrase from a mission statement. It is what you will do each day as a Financial Advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors.
Explore a day in the life of a Financial Advisor below to gain an understanding of how an advisor can have the potential to positively impact their clients’ lives.
Guide Jessica as she begins her journey into investing
Jessica's a recent law school grad whose new promotion at her
firm has her thinking about investing for the first time.
Year 1
You meet Jessica to learn more about her situation and
mindset. As a recent graduate of the Wells Fargo Advisors
Trainee Program, you are eager to put your training into
action.
The skills you learned in training can be invaluable as you guide
this first-time investor into planning for her future.
While we have several diverse training programs, they share
many common elements. All with a unified goal: to help prepare you
for a successful career as a Financial Advisor.
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Generation Y's assets will more than quadruple in the next 10
years
Source: Boston Consulting Group and WFA Strategy NextGen
Client Economic Analysisend call out
Exam prep - You will be granted dedicated
time to study and prepare to take both the Series 7 and
Series 66 registration exams.
Business Development Training - You will
undergo extensive hands-on training on both the services and
products provided by the firm, but also how they may be
suitable for a variety of your potential clients.
Sales and Prospect training - In both
small-group setting and larger gatherings, you will be given
the opportunity to learn the skills to turn investors into
long-term client relationships.
Best Practices - Throughout the training
process, more senior advisors will share their thoughts and
experiences, as well as tips on how to apply them to every aspect of
your new career.
Year 2
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Over the next ten years, Financial Advisor jobs are projected
to grow at 27% (compared to 11% of all other US
occupations). 1
1 The Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor
Statistics via Forbes.end call out
You check-in with Jessica. She wonders if she should be
investing more? Or differently?
Your comprehensive training helps, as you are able to talk
through several investing options with Jessica. You are able
to not only identify which investment mix might be ideal for
Jessica’s situation, but also the path Jessica may be comfortable taking.
There has never been a better time to explore a career as a
Financial Advisor. Many variables are combining to make this
move the perfect opportunity for the right person.
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Our competitive compensation plan is designed with your
personal and professional success in mind.
Full salary for the entirety of the training period.
After training is complete, a base
compensation package may be along with the possibility of
performance-based bonuses or commissions.
Exact compensation details are dependent on your business model.
A complete benefits package is available.end call out
Year 4
You have helped Jessica learn the importance of investing! But
she no longer thinks being a lawyer is right for her. Her
planned career change will have her making less income. And
she still has law school loans to pay…
Jessica calls to get your advice on what these life changes
mean for her investing plans. You remind her that plans are
built to change. Also, that a pay cut now doesn’t necessarily
mean it will be long term.
Year 6
Jessica is getting married! She and her future husband plan on
consolidating some of their investment plans. Coincidentally,
his advisor also works for Wells Fargo Advisors, although in a
different area of the firm.
You set up a meeting with Jessica, her fiancée and his advisor
to decide the best way to move forward. By exploring the
relative benefits of each of your respective areas, you
discover which one can best complement the couple’s future
goals. No matter the decision they make, you are proud to be
able to help them both plan for their financial goals.
Work with Nick to pull his financial big picture into focus
Nick is several years into his career and looking to begin
getting more serious about investing. He’s always handled his
own finances, but now wants you to help look at the “big picture”
for him.
Year 1
You set up a meeting to learn more about Nick, his plans for
the future and his desire to pull all his finances together.
The conversation goes so well that Nick gives you the names of
a few colleagues who have expressed interest in obtaining a
Financial Advisor. You are reminded of the many different
opportunities there are to acquire a client.
The area of Wells Fargo Advisors you work within dictates to
some extent your new client interactions. But still, there is
no “one-way” to uncover new business opportunities.
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Every successful Financial Advisor has many of the following characteristics:
Trustworthy
Self-reliant
Entrepreneurial spirit
Strong work ethic
Sales instincts
Resilience
Collaborative
Natural relationship builder
Detail-oriented
Reliable
Disciplined
Appetite for financial knowledge
Empathetic
Resourceful
Proactiveend call out
Year 5
Your relationship with Nick has been progressing well, but
something unexpected has occurred. Nick’s great uncle has
passed on, leaving him with an unanticipated inheritance.
Nick trusts you to advise him what to do with the money. Some
clients are very hands-off, some very hands-on. You’ll learn
the best way to manage a variety of client investing styles as
you advance in your career.
Year 9
Nick’s career as a graphic designer has been so successful, he
is coming to you for advice on the financial side of opening
up his own business. After a round of congratulations, you
begin discussing how to separate personal investment goals
from business needs.
The conversation evolves into a discussion on the qualities
needed to be successful running your own business.
While the traits you need to potentially build your business vary by
the business model, a successful Financial
Advisor likely has a little bit of all of the aforementioned characteristics listed above inside them.
Year 12
Nick calls you late at night, which is unusual for him. He has an investment
opportunity that could benefit his business. But he needs to
make a decision quickly before too many variables change.
You know your job does not stop just because the workday is
over, so you immediately begin discussing how this decision
might impact his personal and professional finances.
Help Marc and Liz develop a plan for retirement and their
child’s education
Marc and Liz are some of your best clients. You’ve been their
advisor for several years and are looking forward to continue
helping them manage their investments.
Year 5
You set up a check-in meeting with Marc and Liz to
discuss how things are going currently. They have some
thoughts on how to optimize their current plan.
Marc and Liz have always appreciated how the culture of Wells
Fargo Advisors shows up in your relationship with them. You
know how they feel — the culture is a big reason why you’re at
Wells Fargo Advisors, too.
The client and advisor-centric culture at Wells Fargo Advisors
has been ingrained in since 1852.
Year 8
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Wells Fargo Advisors provides all of our advisors with a
multitude of support resources designed to assist them as they
help their clients succeed financially.
Convenient tools
Innovative technology
Expert research
Eye-catching marketing
end call out
Marc and Liz have had their first baby! It’s an exciting time
for them and you as the three of you begin deciding the best
way to evolve their investment strategies to plan for a
college education.
But before you meet with them, you choose to seek advice from
a more senior advisor. There are various coaching programs
within Wells Fargo Advisors to help ensure Financial Advisors
have someone to turn to in order to serve their clients
better.
Year 19
Marc’s health is starting to falter. Unplanned medical bills
and the worry that Marc now won’t be able to work as long as
he planned are combining to create an uncertain future. Also,
their daughter starts college in only a few years…
You chose to consult information from one of the top-flight
research resources available to Financial Advisors. Their
advice helps you to make an informed recommendation for
dealing with these new challenges in your clients’ lives.
Year 26
Marc’s health scare is a distant memory. Now, both he and Liz
are close to retirement. They feel their long-term investment
plans are on track, but want to discuss a short-term strategy
to save for their daughter’s upcoming wedding!
Wells Fargo is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, Minority / Female / Disabled / Veteran / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation.