Financial Planning Associate - Seattle, Vancouver, Redwood City

Summary

The Financial Planning Associate works closely with advisors to create, update, analyze, and deliver tailored financial plans to clients within the region. This role focuses on developing and maintaining strong client relationships, overseeing financial planning processes, and contributing to the firm’s service offerings.

Duties and Responsibilities

Client Relationship & Plan Development
• Client Engagement: Work with advisors on clients with assets under management between $1 million and $2 million to build comprehensive financial plans. Consult with the Financial Planning Manager for clients with assets of $2 million and more complex financial plans.
• Financial Plan Creation: Lead the creation of detailed, customized financial plans, including tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning, investment strategies, and more.
• Plan Review & Implementation: Review client data, present to clients, and assist in preparing action plans based on financial recommendations. Help implement financial strategies and track progress.
Team Support & Process Improvement
• Process Management: Manage and maintain the financial planning process, including reviewing gathered data, inputting financial plans, creating assumptions, generating scenarios, and conducting internal reviews, and presenting client meetings. Ensure all deliverables are accurate and timely.
• Team Collaboration: Work with other team members and departments to improve systems, enhance workflows, and develop processes that help increase client satisfaction and drive service excellence.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Assist the Financial Planning Manager in mentoring Financial Planning Interns, guiding them in financial planning processes and firm culture.
• Document Organization: Organize and maintain client documents, ensuring that they are uploaded to appropriate systems and databases. Maintain and troubleshoot connections for client personal financial websites.

Strategic Involvement & Support
• Mergers and Acquisitions Support: Collaborate with the Director of Financial Planning, Associate Director of Financial Planning, and Financial Planning Manager in the firm’s mergers and acquisitions efforts, including staff training and integration.
• Ongoing Analysis & Research: Continuously research financial trends, opportunities for optimization, and market changes to ensure the firm’s offerings remain competitive and up-to-date.

Training & Professional Development
• Ongoing Training: Participate in continuous professional development, including onboarding, bi-weekly department training, monthly continuing education opportunities, and a dedicated professional development hour.

Additional Responsibilities
• Legislative Awareness: Stay updated on legislation changes (e.g., SECURE Act 2.0) and educate the firm on potential impacts.
• Software & Process Improvements: Evaluate and implement updates to the financial planning tools and software used by the team, ensuring they remain efficient and effective.
• Service Offering Development: Join and actively participate in the development of new service offerings tailored to the regional client base, enhancing the firm’s capabilities in wealth management

Qualifications

•Certifications: Certified Financial Planner designation or coursework in progress toward meeting the experience requirement for the CFP. If not holding the Certifications: Certified Financial Planner designation or coursework in progress toward meeting the experience requirement for the CFP. If not holding the CFP designation, Series 65 exam completion within 90 days of joining the firm.
• Experience: 0-2 years of experience in financial services or a related field.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in financial planning software is preferred (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Office Suite, Tamarac, eMoney, Money Guide Pro, Social Security Analyzer, Advisys, Zilculator,
Holistiplan, Planner CS, Monday.com). Ability to learn and adapt to new systems and softwares.
• Client Relationship Skills: Strong ability to build and maintain long-term client relationships and provide tailored financial advice.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial strategies clearly.
• Interpersonal Skills: Ability to work effectively within a team, demonstrating collaboration and relationship-building skills.
• Independent Worker: Ability to work independently, managing multiple tasks and deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Attention to Detail: Strong eye for detail, ensuring accuracy in all financial planning processes and documents.
• Problem-Solving: Ability to address challenges quickly and effectively, ensuring client satisfaction and smooth workflow.
• Education: Bachelor's degree

What We Offer

We offer a highly competitive suite of holistic benefits designed to help our team members balance their personal and professional life commitments. These include options designed to encourage employee's health, happiness, and financial well-being.

11 Paid Holidays + 2 floating holidays

3 Weeks PTO

Paid Volunteer Time

Paid Parental Leave

Flexible Work Schedule

Highly subsidized Health, Dental, and Vision Plans

401k Retirement Account with company match contributions

Free Mental Health services, Life Insurance, Long & Short-Term Disability Insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts

Employee Financial Education

Employee Educational Expense Reimbursement

Employee Charitable Donations

Employee Referral Incentives

Employee Team Building Activities

Employee Assistance Program