D.A. Davidson’s Individual Investor Group is starting a financial advisor apprentice program. With almost 80 years of experience helping generations of clients, Davidson says it has developed this program to give candidates the structure, tools, strategies and resources they need as a foundation for a successful career as a financial adviser.

“Davidson created this program to guide recent college graduates pursuing a financial advisory career,” said Nataleah Dietzmann, D.A. Davidson’s marketing director, in a press release announcing the program. “Each year of the program corresponds to a different skill set unique to financial advisers. Davidson is committed to cultivating the best advisers for our clients.”

The three-year program is designed to expose apprentices to a variety of industry experiences, from obtaining licenses and wealth planning to corporate projects and client work with an established team. The goal is for each apprentice to deliver financial strategies to clients successfully, understand Davidson’s corporate culture, and develop a client base.

D.A. Davidson covers the cost of the program, including candidates’ travel and lodging.

Jacquie Burchard, a spokeswoman for the firm, says, “We recognize that the program requires an investment by our firm, and D.A. Davidson is prepared to make that investment in order to nurture the right candidates.”

The first apprentices are scheduled to begin the program in September under the tutelage of Jason Woodward, the company’s new director of new adviser acquisition and training.

During their first year, apprentices will be based at Davidson’s Great Falls, Mont., headquarters, where they will study for required licensing exams and learn the complexities of financial advising. That step is intended to provide a practical and regulatory foundation for the rest of the program. In the second year, apprentices will fulfill assorted operating roles—ranging from technology training to individual branch support—in various offices to better understand Davidson’s culture and processes. The program’s final year will be in Seattle, Wash., working in the financial services department supporting financial advisers and in the call center learning client servicing activities. 

Founded 79 years ago, D.A. Davidson claims to be the largest full-service investment firm based in the Northwest, offering investment and financial services and products to institutional, corporate, nonprofit and individual investors nationwide.  

D.A. Davidson is a subsidiary of D.A. Davidson Cos., an employee-owned financial services company with 1,400 employees in 23 states.  D.A. Davidson Cos. also operates Davidson Investment Advisors, a professional asset management firm; D.A. Davidson Trust Co., a trust and wealth management firm; and Davidson Fixed Income Management, a registered investment adviser providing fixed income portfolio management and advisory services.