QUESTION 9 OF 30

If you helped someone make their first investment, what are the first steps you would take?

The interviewer wants to see what kind of advice you would give to a new investor. This question, especially if you are a seasoned wealth manager in high-end wealth management, will take you back to the very basics. Give an answer that shows your knowledge but also your ability to guide and teach people who are not as experienced as you may be.

"If I were to help someone with their very first investments, I would first remind them that investing can be very simple. I would speak in terms that someone could understand and exercise patience when explaining terms and processes. I would ensure that these persons' finances were in order, so they knew what they could afford to invest every month. Then, I would set some achievable and basic goals."

"To understand terminology is fundamental, so I would first share some resources so that this new investor understood the industry's language. Then, I would perform a financial health assessment and a risk tolerance assessment. I would ask for their top 3 most important financial goals and what they believed was a reasonable timeline for the achievement of each goal. From there, I would make investment recommendations."

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Merrill Lynch Mock Interview

If you helped someone make their first investment, what are the first steps you would take?

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30 Merrill Lynch Interview Questions & Answers