What are the responsibilities and job description for the Financial Planning Associate position at Appian Wealth?
Company Description
Appian Wealth is a comprehensive financial planning firm located in Washington, DC and serving a remote client base in 40 states. The team is nationally recognized within Northwestern Mutual for elite sales levels and balanced production across various investment, insurance, and fee-based planning solutions. The team boasts both a CFA Charterholder and CFP® Professionals and creates a culture of learning. Team members are supported and rewarded (financially and otherwise) for excellence in financial planning acumen and obtaining credentials.
The team is hiring an experienced planner to develop financial planning recommendations and help maintain existing client relationships. This role is largely client-facing and gives the candidate the opportunity to forge meaningful relationships with the firm’s clients. When not meeting with clients, the Financial Planning Associate will utilize Northwestern Mutual’s proprietary planning software and other cutting-edge industry tools to model various planning scenarios.
This is an excellent opportunity for a paraplanner who wants client-facing experience and may desire a clear pathway to an advisor role while working within a well-capitalized firm that supports professional growth.
Job duties
- Partnering with the lead advisor to maintain client relationships, leading certain client meetings independently as skills and licensing permit
- Preparing comprehensive financial plans covering investments, insurance, retirement, college planning, tax considerations, cash flow, estate planning, and more
- Modeling scenarios and creating sensitivity analyses such as retirement projections, Monte Carlo, and cash-flow stress tests
Qualifications
- 2 years of relevant work experience in a financial planning, paraplanning, or client service role within wealth management, insurance, or a related field with a strong regulatory and compliance track record
- Commitment to provide fiduciary-level advice and act in the client’s best interest
- Series 6, Series 7, or life & health insurance licensing with a willingness to obtain any remaining qualifications shortly after joining the team
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; polished presentation skills and comfort in client-facing settings
- Willingness to learn
- Ability to embrace change
- Ability to work both independently and on a team
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- CFP® Professionals preferred. Candidates without CFP® credentials will be expected to earn the designation within 3 years of joining the team
At Appian Wealth, we strive to compensate our team members at the prevailing market base salaries and to enhance our employee compensation to the top of the industry through incentive compensation. With a culture of lifelong learning, the firm provides additional compensation to team members who earn applicable degrees and designations. Additionally, we create rich incentive compensation programs that add between 5% and 15% of the base salary to an employee’s compensation. This incentive compensation is driven by both individual performance and firm performance. Exceptional team members will also have the opportunity to own an equity stake of the practice.
We offer an industry standard benefit plan that pays for 90% of an employee’s medical insurance, a retirement plan with 3% employer contribution, and other financial benefits. In addition to financial compensation, Appian Wealth offers lifestyle and PTO benefits meant to reflect the desires of today’s job-seekers. Hybrid work is supported. The firm thoroughly supports education and professional development with many firm-sponsored growth opportunities.