Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Financial Planner Assistant

💰 $55,000 - $75,000

FinanceFinancial ServicesWealth ManagementClient Support

🎯 Role Definition

As a Financial Planner Assistant, you are the operational backbone of our advisory team. This role is a critical blend of administrative excellence, analytical support, and direct client service. You will work in lockstep with our Senior Financial Planners to prepare for client meetings, process transactions, manage client data, and ensure a seamless, high-touch experience for our valued clientele. This position is an exceptional opportunity for a motivated individual to gain deep exposure to all facets of wealth management and build a long-term career in the financial planning industry.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Recent Graduate (Finance, Economics, Business)
  • Client Service Associate (Banking/Brokerage)
  • Administrative Assistant (Financial Firm)

Advancement To:

  • Paraplanner
  • Associate Financial Planner
  • Lead Financial Planner / Wealth Advisor

Lateral Moves:

  • Investment Operations Specialist
  • Compliance Associate
  • Trading Associate

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Assist Senior Financial Planners in the development and preparation of comprehensive financial plans, including retirement, education, insurance, and estate planning analyses.
  • Gather, organize, and synthesize confidential client data, including investment statements, tax returns, insurance policies, and legal documents, to build a holistic client profile.
  • Prepare and meticulously review all necessary paperwork for new client onboarding, account opening, and asset transfers, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
  • Schedule and coordinate client meetings, prepare detailed meeting agendas, and assemble all required presentation materials, reports, and review documents for the advisory team.
  • Act as a key point of contact for client service requests, handling inquiries regarding account balances, transactions, and general information with professionalism and timeliness.
  • Input and execute trades (equities, mutual funds, ETFs) as directed by a Financial Planner, ensuring proper execution and settlement.
  • Proactively monitor client accounts for key action items, such as required minimum distributions (RMDs), cash management needs, and rebalancing opportunities.
  • Utilize advanced financial planning software (e.g., eMoney, MoneyGuidePro) to input data, run scenarios, and generate reports for client financial plans.
  • Support the construction of investment proposals and portfolio allocation recommendations based on client goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.
  • Diligently maintain the firm's Client Relationship Management (CRM) system, ensuring all client interactions, notes, and activities are logged accurately and in real-time.
  • Prepare customized client portfolio performance reports, asset allocation summaries, and billing statements for periodic reviews.
  • Facilitate communication and document exchange between clients, custodians (like Schwab or Fidelity), and third-party professionals, including accountants and attorneys.
  • Conduct thorough research on various financial products, investment strategies, and emerging economic trends to support team decision-making.
  • Ensure all client-related activities and documentation strictly adhere to industry regulations (FINRA, SEC) and internal compliance procedures.
  • Manage the end-to-end client onboarding process, providing a seamless and positive experience from initial contact through account funding.
  • Assist in preparing for and documenting client review meetings, tracking follow-up tasks and ensuring their timely completion.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and perform exploratory data analysis to identify trends or opportunities within the client base.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of the firm's operational workflows, data management strategy, and client service standards.
  • Collaborate with internal business units to translate client and advisor needs into actionable service or technology requirements.
  • Participate in team sprint planning and agile ceremonies, contributing to projects that enhance the firm's capabilities.
  • Assist with client communication efforts, including drafting newsletters, coordinating educational webinars, and planning client appreciation events.
  • Process client cash management requests, including check deposits, wire transfers, and ACH distributions, with a high degree of precision.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Financial Planning Software Proficiency: Hands-on experience with tools like eMoney, MoneyGuidePro, or NaviPlan is strongly preferred.
  • Microsoft Office Suite Mastery: Advanced proficiency in MS Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables), Word, and PowerPoint for data analysis, reporting, and presentations.
  • CRM Expertise: Experience using and maintaining a CRM system such as Salesforce, Redtail, or Junxure.
  • Custodial Platform Knowledge: Familiarity with major custodial platforms (e.g., Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing) for account administration and trading.
  • Financial Acumen: Solid understanding of core financial planning concepts, including investments, insurance, tax, retirement, and estate planning.
  • Industry Licensing: Progress towards or active SIE, FINRA Series 7, and Series 66/65 licenses is a significant advantage.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional Attention to Detail: A meticulous and precise approach to all tasks, especially with data entry, paperwork, and compliance.
  • Superior Communication Skills: The ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and empathetically with clients and team members, both verbally and in writing.
  • Outstanding Organizational and Time-Management: Proven ability to manage multiple competing priorities, deadlines, and workflows in a fast-paced environment.
  • Unwavering Integrity and Discretion: A deep commitment to maintaining the confidentiality and privacy of sensitive client information.
  • Proactive Problem-Solver: A resourceful and self-starting attitude with the ability to anticipate needs and independently find solutions.
  • Team-Oriented Mindset: A collaborative spirit and a genuine desire to support colleagues and contribute to the team's collective success.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field of study.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Finance
  • Economics
  • Business Administration
  • Accounting

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1-3 years of professional experience in financial services, wealth management, or a related industry.

Preferred:

  • Direct experience in a client-facing or operational support role at a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), brokerage, or wealth management firm.
  • Progress towards the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation is highly valued and supported.
Explore More Careers