Financial Planner / Service Advisor

*NOTE: This is not a remote position. This position requires you to be on-site in Buffalo Grove, IL. Please do not apply if you are seeking a remote position.

Who We Are:

SGL Financial is an established wealth management and financial planning firm serving the Buffalo Grove & Chicago, IL area for over 20 years.

We oversee appx. $350 Million in total assets and serve approximately 700 families in multiple financial services and divisions.

Our core team beliefs & mission are:

• Our clients’ financial security and peace-of-mind is always our #1 focus
• Over-attentiveness and client responsiveness is of the highest importance
• Passion and enthusiasm for financial and retirement planning is built into the core of every person here and everything we do
• It’s not about the money, it’s about connections, friendships, and relationships. Our clients are like family to us

We offer a stable and growing company with leadership, support, training, and everything you need to succeed and grow your care

Position Overview:

Are you a professional, attentive, and motivated Financial Advisor that brings a passion for helping clients with all aspects of their financial and investment planning?

Our firm is seeking an experienced Financial Advisor to join our team as a Lead Planner / Service Advisor. Ideal candidates will have a CFP designation and 3 years of relevant experience.

We are an established wealth management and financial planning firm serving the Buffalo Grove & Chicago, IL area for over 20 years. We oversee appx. $350 Million in total assets and serve approximately 700 families in multiple financial services and divisions.

We offer a stable and growing company with leadership, support, training, and everything you need to succeed and grow your career.

Key Responsibilities:

Your role as a Lead Planner / Service Advisor will require you to handle a wide range of financial planning responsibilities as well as maintaining trusting, supportive, and strong relationships with the client base.

Each Service Advisor works closely as a member of our team-based “pod” structure managed by our Lead Advisors. The Lead Advisor’s role is to find and source new advisory clients to work with SGL Financial. Upon onboarding, they are transitioned to the Lead Planner / Service Advisor.

The Service Advisor is primarily a non-sales role which provides day-to-day financial planning support for clients and manages the follow-up of client meetings and relationships. However, there will also be new sales opportunities for the Service Advisor with existing clients, such as additional assets and cross-sale opportunities.

Utilizing our exclusive and proprietary planning software, you will assist with data input and development of comprehensive retirement plans and assist the Lead Advisor and the team’s clients with a broad range of other financial planning needs and calculations.

Day-to-Day Job Function:

• Serve as the main point of contact for all assigned clients in our Holistic Wealth Management division.
• Service all client needs, requests, questions, and updates
• Prepare comprehensive financial plan recommendations
• Prepare and develop robust retirement income plans and retirement plan tracking
• Prepare investment portfolio summaries and asset allocation analyses
• Meet regularly with clients to establish trusting, supportive relationships
• Prepare and analyze various financial planning reports
• Utilize tax planning software to assess client tax situations and tax strategies
• Run, review, and compare various illustrations for annuities, life insurance and long-term care (LTC) to find the best options for clients
• Oversee preparation of various one-off analysis requests
• Handle a variety of other financial planning related analyses and services as needed
• Collaborate with team members and advisors on client cases
• Conduct regular client reviews according to their assigned Service Model
• Proactively check-in with clients throughout the year to ensure all client needs are met

What we seek in a candidate:

• 3 years of experience working with clients as a Financial Planner required
• Series 65 or Series 66 license required
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ preferred
• CFP is a designation requirement to be obtained within 2 years from hire date
• Life Insurance license preferred
• Life insurance license must be obtained within 6 months from hire date
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university
• Strong passion for financial and retirement planning
• Enjoys working with numbers, spreadsheets and planning analysis
• Very strong Microsoft Excel experience and familiarity
• Highly detail-oriented and accurate
• Must be capable of multi-tasking and tracking multiple items/projects at the same time
• Friendly, outgoing, and able to build and maintain strong relationships

The Perks:

We believe that taking care of our team is the foundation of a strong, thriving organization. We are committed to supporting your well‑being, professional growth, and long‑term success. Our compensation and benefits package are designed to reward your contributions and help you build a fulfilling career.

Compensation & Growth:

• Competitive base salary with team-based bonus structure
• $120,000 - $150,000 per year
• Clear career growth and advancement opportunities
• Mentoring and hands‑on guidance from management and leadership
• A strong commitment to continuous learning - after six months of employment, the company regularly sponsors industry‑related designations, certifications, and educational programs that are relevant to your professional development
• Supportive, family‑oriented company culture that values collaboration and personal development

Work–Life Balance:

• Paid Time Off (PTO) – 15 paid days per year
• Paid Holidays – Office closures on federal holidays and stock market closure dates, including: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day

Business hours that support work–life balance:

• Mon–Thurs: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Fri: 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM once high‑priority tasks are completed
• Paid lunch hour

Work-From-Home Days:

• If position allows, employees are eligible for up to two (2) work-from-home days per quarter after six months of employment

Health & Wellness Benefits:

• Health and dental insurance available, with the company covering 70% of employee premium costs
• Vision insurance available
• Spouse and dependent coverage available at employee expense
• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching eligibility begins after six months of employment

Office Perks That Make Every Day Better:

• Snacks and beverages available in the office
• Complimentary Starbucks coffee machine to keep you energized
• Warm, welcoming work environment where contributions are recognized and appreciated
• Team bonding events, including monthly company-paid lunches, company outings, and happy hours