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Job Description
Job Overview This is a full-time role at the center of a growing fee-based financial planning practice serving pre and current retirees, corporate upper management, and specialty physicians. The Senior Financial Planning Analyst owns two critical functions: synthesizing financial analyses into polished, client-ready planning deliverables, and serving as the operational quarterback of the client experience from first meeting through ongoing service. This is also a named growth track to a Lead Advisor role for the right candidate. The practice owner analyzes, advises, and develops new business — the Senior Financial Planning Analyst turns analysis into a finalized plan and ensures nothing falls through the cracks thereafter.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Plan Synthesis & Final Deliverable Take the financial analysis output and synthesize it into a finalized, client-ready financial planning presentation deliverable according to the lead advisor's planning philosophy Render complex financial concepts and analysis into clear, accessible client-facing language and visuals Serve as liaison with Home Office Planning & Wealth Support team to send, review, and incorporate initial analysis output into the final deliverable Review completed plans for accuracy, quality, and case strategy opportunities; prepare questions and present at internal Case Development Meetings Maintain version control, plan archives, and deliverable templates for the practice Second Chair to Lead Advisor Sit in every client and prospect meeting alongside the lead advisor Capture comprehensive meeting notes, decisions, and action items in real time Document client commitments, advisor recommendations, and next steps with precision Present a polished, professional presence appropriate for high-net-worth client engagements Action Item Execution & Follow-Through Translate meeting notes into clear, assigned action items immediately after each meeting Assign tasks to the appropriate team member — operations, admin, Home Office shared services, or outside professionals (CPAs, attorneys) Own all client-facing follow-up communication: document requests, status updates, scheduling, and confirmations Track every open action item to completion and proactively escalate stalls to the advisor before they become problems Close the loop with clients once each action item is resolved Client Relationship Management & Service Serve existing clients as the initial point of contact for routine service questions and document requests Identify service and advice requests that require Lead Advisor involvement and route accordingly Manage the client review schedule to ensure timely connections aligned with client segmentation Maintain and update client segmentation in the CRM to inform service rhythm and marketing strategies Workflow & Case Management Open, manage, and monitor cases and workflows in CRM system Coordinate timing and hand-offs with the operations specialist on account, insurance, and investment onboarding Maintain visibility on every open client matter and provide the advisor with a clear weekly status of all in-flight work Identify and eliminate friction points in client experience and internal workflow CRM, Records & Meeting Preparation Own CRM data integrity end-to-end — contact records, meeting notes, task assignments, pipeline status, and full client history Ensure every client interaction is documented in line with broker-dealer compliance requirements Prepare comprehensive meeting prep packages for the advisor in advance of every client engagement Pull account summaries, prior meeting notes, outstanding action items, and relevant client documents
WHAT THIS ROLE IS NOT
To set clear expectations and protect lane clarity within the team: Not a data entry role — takes the analysis and synthesizes it into the final client deliverable Not an independent advisory role — does not provide advice, make product or service recommendations, or take advisory positions Not an operations or trading role — account opening, asset movement, trading, and insurance underwriting are owned by the Director of Planning and Investment Operations Not a back-office role — this person is in the room and on the front line of the client experience
IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE
Required Credentials CFP® designation, or active CFP® candidate with completion expected within 12 months Series 7, or ability to obtain within 90 days of starting 02-15 Life, Accident & Health insurance license, or ability to obtain within 90 days of starting Bachelor's degree in finance, business administration, or related field strongly preferred Experience & Background 1-3+ years of experience in a financial services, wealth management, or professional services support role Demonstrated experience producing client-ready financial plan deliverables Working knowledge of broker-dealer environments, CRM platforms (Redtail, Salesforce, or similar), and financial planning software Experience supporting a fee-based or fiduciary planning practice strongly preferred Skills & Attributes Working understanding of comprehensive financial planning concepts: retirement, tax, estate, insurance, investment, and cash management Ability to translate technical financial analysis into clear, client-facing narrative and visuals Exceptional written and verbal communication — polished enough to represent the practice to HNW clients Active listener and strong note-taker with the ability to capture nuance Exceptional organization and ownership mindset so nothing ever slips Strong project management instincts Highly proactive, engaged, and motivated to continue professional development Discreet and trustworthy with sensitive personal and financial information Comfortable working in a fast-moving, high-standards environment where the bar is excellence Culture Fit This practice is building toward something significant. The right person for this role is not just looking for a job — they want to be foundational to a growing enterprise, take ownership of the client experience, and grow alongside the practice. They take pride in being the person who makes everything run, and they understand that in a fee-based, white-glove practice, the quality of follow-through is what separates the firm from its competitors.
COMPENSATION & GROWTH
Base salary range: $75,000 - $95,000 depending on experience, CFP® status, and licensing. Performance bonus tied to deliverables throughout and client experience metrics. Bonus Expectations $10,000 - $30,000+ based on performance. Three named growth paths are available, depending on the candidate's strengths and interests: Associate Wealth Management Advisor (Client-Facing Lead Advisor) — For candidates who develop the skills, licensing, and client relationship capabilities required, there is an explicit, supported path to a Lead Advisor role within the practice Director of Financial Planning — For candidates who want to specialize in planning craft and gaining more planning knowledge to lead the planning function as the practice scales Operations Leadership/COO — For candidates who want to grow into running the business itself as the team expands Continuing education, CFP® completion (if not already held), and additional designations are encouraged and financially supported.
ABOUT PRACTICE & WHY JOIN
This is a fiduciary financial planning practice serving high-net-worth and high-income clients around the world. The practice is affiliated with Northwestern Mutual with full access to Home Office Planning & Wealth Support, CFA-led investment management, and the broader firm ecosystem. The practice provides comprehensive planning that extends well beyond traditional investment management and basic software output — including tax planning, estate coordination, cash and cash flow positioning, total asset allocation, complex insurance solutions, among many more planning services. The practice has sustained a high level of growth with AUM increasing by 39%, 48%, and 43% respectively in each of the past three fiscal years and is building the infrastructure to scale into a multi-advisor enterprise. The practice owner's vision is to build out a full suite of high-performing, specialized team members that owns execution. This role is foundational to that vision of building toward a true enterprise-level firm.
