What are the responsibilities and job description for the Financial Planning Associate position at Northwestern Mutual - Los Angeles?
Financial Planning Associate
Location: Downtown Los Angeles (in-office; hybrid 3 days/week) Company: Sage Capital Wealth Management & Insurance Solutions (under the Northwestern Mutual umbrella)
Our mission is to help clients articulate a clear financial plan and serve as their strategic partner to achieve their goals in the most efficient way possible. As a team, we commit to excellence, integrity, growth, and efficiency to deliver the best client experience.
Role Summary: We are seeking a Financial Planning Associate to operate as a “second chair” to our Wealth Management Advisor across planning and investments and help manage workflow and deliverables for the team. This role supports end-to-end plan creation, investment implementation, workflow management, and delivery of client-ready materials.
Key Responsibilities
- Financial plan construction and updates
- Create, finalize, and quality-check comprehensive financial plans (PX plans) for new and existing clients; ensure recommendations align with our planning visuals and client goals.
- Integrate multiple planning areas into cohesive timelines and action steps: investments; retirement accumulation and income/distribution; estate planning concepts; risk management (life, disability, long-term care); cash flow and asset/liability management; tax implications; education funding; major purchases; business planning.
- Client engagement (second chair)
- Attend some client meetings (not primary client-facing), take notes, present portions of deliverables, and explain product/recommendation rationale in clear, client-friendly language.
- Prepare advisor in advance with concise planning and investment updates.
- Investments and qualified plans
- Apply our investment philosophy to recommend and place clients into appropriate models; create/update investment proposals.
- Support qualified plan management for existing clients; prepare 401(k) proposals and related plan deliverables.
- Workflow and operations
- Oversee case progression across the team: direct tasks related to opening accounts, submitting applications, and ensuring accurate documentation.
- Build, refine, and deliver high-quality planning materials and visuals; ensure all client data is captured and tracked in the CRM.
- Collaboration and continuous improvement
- Partner with the President/Wealth Management Advisor and team to enhance client experience, improve processes, and optimize financial outcomes.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- CFP designation preferred
- Investment proficiency required: FINRA SIE, Series 7 and 63 (or comparable) OR 5 years of hands-on financial planning experience within the industry.
- Demonstrated experience building comprehensive financial plans and supporting investment implementation.
- Strong attention to detail, high follow-through, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills; ability to present complex concepts simply.
- Collaborative, client-focused mindset aligned with our values of excellence, integrity, growth, and efficiency.
- Ability to be in our Downtown Los Angeles office at least three days per week.
Compensation
- Base salary: $75,000–$95,000, commensurate with experience and credentials.
- Typical ranges: CFP $90,000–$95,000; investment-licensed (non-CFP) $75,000–$85,000.
Equal Opportunity Sage Capital Wealth Management & Insurance Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $75,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
- Bachelor's (Required)
Experience:
- Financial Planning: 5 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- CA Life & Health Insurance License (Preferred)
- SIE, Series 6 or7, and Series 63 or 66 (Preferred)
Ability to Relocate:
- Los Angeles, CA 90071: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Los Angeles, CA 90071
Salary : $75,000 - $95,000