Department Profile

The Virtual Engagement Associate Desk provides Financial Advisors (FAs) with dedicated infrastructure and support through innovative business development strategies to strengthen client relationships and promote business growth. Team members will collaborate with partners across the Morgan Stanley ecosystem and learn the skills necessary to succeed as a wealth management professional.

The VEA program offers a variety of offerings:
• Digital VEAs Learn to create, enhance, and implement custom digital marketing and communication strategies. They leverage the Firm's tools to help FAs increase client engagement and deliver consistent communication through websites, social media, and Morgan Stanley's proprietary email communication and marketing system.
• Planning VEAs Build authentic goals-based financial plans for clients and prospects. They utilize Morgan Stanley's Financial Planning tools to support FAs by enhancing their financial planning process.

Position Overview:

The VEA Program is a 2-year program which provides an exciting opportunity for recent graduates of all undergraduate majors and backgrounds to:

1. Gain their Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam prior to joining the Firm, as well as the Series 7, and Series 63 licensing exams through Firm sponsorship upon starting full-time

2. Get firsthand experience consulting and working directly with FAs and their teams and learn about their business model and wealth management

3. Upon completion of the program, you have the flexibility of being promoted into a Senior VEA role or the support to look for other opportunities throughout the Firm

How VEAs Make an Impact:
• Be an effective communicator: Adapt communication styles to adhere to a diverse array of people and situations and drive business opportunities
• Be an innovative thinker: Develop and share new ideas to attract and retain clients and contribute to the future growth of the business
• Be a problem solver: Demonstrate empathy and help FAs with their inquiries, to create an exceptional client experience in a fast-paced environment
• Be your own advocate: Strive for excellence in your role and work with your manager to prepare for future career advancements that align with your goals as a professional

Benefits of being a VEA:
• Develop a robust understanding of wealth management and gain insight into one of the world's leading financial institutions
• Invest in your career with a top tier learning and career development experience combining online learning courses, as well as on the job training
• Benefit from a competitive base salary and a wide range of additional benefits including paid time off, savings programs, health care, insurance plans, student loan refinancing, fitness subsidy, and more
• Access to 401(k) offering with competitive Firm matching, as well as access to the Morgan Stanley Employee Stock Purchase Program

Skills You Bring:

We seek candidates from a variety of academic backgrounds who have a heightened interest in financial services. Successful VEAs have a unique blend of interpersonal and analytic skills that they leverage to build relationships with FAs and serve as a consultant for their client engagement and planning strategies.

Specific Qualifications Include:
• Must hold a bachelor's degree; 0-3 years professional experience in finance, business development, management, marketing, sales, legal, accounting, education, military, or other business-related field preferred, but open to all majors
• Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam required prior to start date
• Series 7 and 63 preferred prior to start date otherwise required within 90 days of joining the desk
• Exemplary communication, presentation, problem solving, and time-management skills
• Organized, focused, and highly disciplined
• Able to balance simultaneous competing needs of their assigned FAs and execute on all necessary actions in a timely manner
• Authorization to work in the U.S. without durational restrictions
• Successful completion of background check and pre-employment assessments

Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $57,000 and $115,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.

Morgan Stanley's goal is to build and maintain a workforce that is diverse in experience and background but uniform in reflecting our standards of integrity and excellence. Consequently, our recruiting efforts reflect our desire to attract and retain the best and brightest from all talent pools. We want to be the first choice for prospective employees.

It is the policy of the Firm to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, sex stereotype, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital and civil partnership/union status, pregnancy, veteran or military service status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce (M/F/Disability/Vet).