Virtual Financial Advisor, Inheritance

Job Description Summary

Job Description

Investment Central, a specialized department at the Raymond James home office, provides exceptional service to Raymond James’ clients. Although we operate as a home office department, our approach mirrors that of most Raymond James branches.

Under limited supervision, the Inheritance Virtual Financial Advisor (Inheritance VFA) uses advanced knowledge and skills obtained through experience, specialized training, and licensure to assist executors, trustees, and beneficiaries of deceased clients through the complexities of estate settlement, inheritance processing, and post-inheritance financial decisions. This role combines deep operational expertise in inheritance and estate-related accounts with licensed, client-facing financial services support.

The Inheritance VFA provides guidance to beneficiaries on a non-discretionary basis, executes unsolicited trades, facilitates final distributions, and supports the transition of inherited assets while ensuring adherence to firm policies, regulatory requirements, and fiduciary standards. Work performed requires evaluation, judgment, and originality to resolve moderately complex to complex situations involving estate disbursements, beneficiary distributions, and inherited investment portfolios.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact for beneficiaries, executors, and trustees, providing professional, empathetic, and knowledgeable support throughout the inheritance and estate settlement process.

• Process and review documents and forms for inheritance-related and estate accounts, including beneficiary distributions and final estate disbursements.

• Answer and manage inbound and outbound calls related to inheritance cases, including complex distribution instructions, paperwork requirements, and account transitions.

• Act as a liaison between beneficiaries and internal home office departments (Decedent Solutions, New Accounts, Customer Accounts, Cost Basis) to research, resolve, and fully close escalated inheritance-related issues.

• Determine appropriate resolution paths to ensure client satisfaction while maintaining strict adherence to firm policies, regulatory requirements, and fiduciary standards.

• Execute unsolicited trades and large-volume transactions when required, performing due diligence and mitigating risk to the firm.

• Place solicited trades for indivisible fixed income holdings.

• Review inherited portfolios, explain investments, and educate beneficiaries on asset allocation, risk considerations, and available services, consistent with non-advisory guidelines.

• Assist beneficiaries with account establishment, updates, and maintenance in accordance with internal and external regulations.

• Monitor cases for potential risk, suitability, AML, or supervisory concerns and escalate issues to appropriate management when necessary.

• Communicate operational policies and procedures governing inheritance and estate processing at the retail and home office levels.

• Maintain thorough documentation, CRM notes, and case tracking; review and maintain weekly reports related to inheritance activity.

• Follow up verbally and in writing to ensure resolution completion and client satisfaction.

• Collaborate closely with other Virtual Financial Advisors to ensure consistent fiduciary practices and risk mitigation. Such as: Prudent Process, Supervisory Alerts, and Alerts portal.

• Coach and mentor less experienced associates on inheritance processes, client communication, and regulatory considerations.

• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Advanced Knowledge of:

• Securities industry concepts, practices, and procedures.

• Estate, inheritance, and beneficiary account processing.

• Financial markets and products, including stocks, mutual funds, annuities, UITs, structured products, and alternative investments.

• Back-office systems and brokerage operations.

Skill in:

• Managing complex, high-risk client and estate situations with professionalism and empathy.

• Prioritizing and coordinating multiple detailed cases in a fast-paced environment.

• Reviewing trades and disbursements that may expose the firm to potential liability.

• Investigating and resolving escalated client issues.

• Clear, concise, and effective verbal and written communication with beneficiaries and internal partners.

• Operating standard office equipment and required software applications to document, track, and report case activity.

Ability to:

• Provide a high level of customer service in emotionally sensitive situations involving deceased clients.

• Use independent judgment on complex financial and operational matters with potential firm liability.

• Communicate effectively with beneficiaries, executors, advisors, and back-office teams.

• Work under pressure with frequently changing priorities and deadlines.

• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to regulatory and compliance standards.

• Work independently while collaborating within a team-based environment.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships across all levels of the organization.

Educational / Previous Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree (B.A. / B.S.) in a related discipline and a minimum of two (2) years of experience in the financial services industry, preferably including estate, inheritance, or complex client service experience.
  OR

• An equivalent combination of experience, education, and/or training as approved by Human Resources.

Licenses / Certifications

• SIE required (unless exemption or grandfathering applies).

• FINRA Series 7 required.

• FINRA Series 66 or Series 63 and 65 required.

• Insurance License preferred.

Additional Requirements

• Approximately 10% travel required.

• Must be eligible to be registered in all 50 states, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Education

Bachelor’s: Business Administration, Bachelor’s: Economics, Bachelor’s: Finance

Work Experience

General Experience - 3 to 6 years

Certifications

s7 - General Securities Representative Examination - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Securities Industry Essentials Exam (SIE) - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)

Travel

Less than 25%

Workstyle

Hybrid

At Raymond James our associates use five guiding behaviors (Develop, Collaborate, Decide, Deliver, Improve) to deliver on the firm's core values of client-first, integrity, independence and a conservative, long-term view. 

We expect our associates at all levels to:
•  Grow professionally and inspire others to do the same
•  Work with and through others to achieve desired outcomes
•  Make prompt, pragmatic choices and act with the client in mind
•  Take ownership and hold themselves and others accountable for delivering results that matter
•  Contribute to the continuous evolution of the firm

At Raymond James – as part of our people-first culture, we honor, value, and respect the uniqueness, experiences, and backgrounds of all of our Associates.  When associates bring their best authentic selves, our organization, clients, and communities thrive. The Company is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions on the basis of merit and business needs. 

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