The posting
Financial Planning Specialist
Paragon Wealth Advisors | Seattle, WA | In-Office
Join a growing financial planning team and turn client data into meaningful planning insight.
Paragon Wealth Advisors is seeking an experienced and analytical Financial Planning Specialist to support our financial planning team and help deliver high-quality planning work for clients. This position will work closely with the primary Financial Planning Specialist and Financial Advisors, providing additional capacity across financial forecasting, plan preparation, research, quality control, client meeting support, and other planning-related responsibilities.
This is a multifaceted role that combines financial planning support with broader planning team and client service responsibilities. The ideal candidate will bring strong financial planning knowledge, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to review complex information, identify discrepancies, and ensure work is accurate and complete before it reaches the client.
Paragon currently utilizes an outside resource for portions of the financial planning process. As the team grows and this position develops, there may be an opportunity to bring additional planning work in-house, giving the right candidate the opportunity to take on greater responsibility and grow within the financial planning function.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Planning & Analysis
- Support the preparation and development of comprehensive financial plans, forecasts, and planning analyses.
- Gather, organize, and review financial information used in the planning process.
- Review planning data and outputs to ensure information is complete, accurate, and appropriate.
- Assist with financial planning projects and analysis as directed by the planning team.
- Support Financial Advisors throughout the client planning and service process.
- Research planning questions and assist with additional analysis as needed.
- Support the review of financial planning results and identify potential planning considerations for advisor discussion.
- Depending on experience and demonstrated capability, take on increasing responsibility related to planning analysis and recommendations.
Quality Control & Accuracy
- Serve as an important quality-control resource for financial planning work.
- Carefully review information received from clients, advisors, and outside planning resources.
- Proof financial planning materials and forecasts for accuracy before they are presented to advisors or clients.
- Compare information across documents and systems to identify inconsistencies, discrepancies, or missing information.
- Research and coordinate resolution of discrepancies with the appropriate team member.
- Maintain a high level of accuracy when working with detailed financial and client information.
- Help establish and improve processes that promote consistency, accuracy, and quality across the planning workflow.
Client & Advisor Support
- Work closely with Financial Advisors and planning team members to gather information and clarify client needs.
- Participate in client meetings and assist with meeting preparation and follow-up.
- Take detailed notes during client meetings and prepare clear, accurate meeting summaries.
- Document client needs, decisions, action items, and follow-up responsibilities.
- Coordinate post-meeting follow-up and help ensure outstanding items are completed.
- Work closely with advisors and other team members to move client recommendations and service needs forward.
- Attend client meetings with advisors and provide detailed administrative and planning support.
- Develop a strong understanding of the practice's financial planning process and client service model.
Account & Transaction Support
- Execute and process client transactions accurately and efficiently.
- Support account servicing and other transaction-related activities as directed by advisors.
- Assist with money movement, account updates, and other operational requests.
- Ensure transaction and account-related information is documented accurately and completed in a timely manner.
Team & Practice Development
- Provide day-to-day support to the primary Financial Planning Specialist and help manage planning-related workload.
- Provide additional capacity during periods of increased activity.
- Help ensure planning deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule.
- Identify opportunities to improve planning processes, documentation, workflow, and quality control.
- Assist with bringing additional planning processes in-house as the practice's capabilities expand.
- Develop a strong understanding of the practice's planning methodology, systems, and service standards.
- Collaborate with advisors, planning specialists, and other team members to support client needs.
- Assist with special projects and practice initiatives as needed.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role means becoming a trusted and knowledgeable planning resource for the team. You will help ensure financial planning work is accurate, complete, and ready for advisor review while providing valuable capacity to a growing planning function.
As you gain experience and demonstrate your capabilities, you may have the opportunity to take on increasing responsibility within the financial planning process, including more complex analysis and planning work. As the practice evaluates opportunities to bring additional planning functions in-house, this position has the potential to grow alongside the firm's expanding capabilities.
The ideal candidate is someone who enjoys analytical work, takes pride in accuracy, asks thoughtful questions, and wants to play a meaningful role in strengthening and growing a financial planning team.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Paragon Wealth Advisors is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes qualified candidates from all backgrounds.
Background Check
Employment with Paragon Wealth Advisors is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.
Requirements
What We're Looking For
- Series 7 and Series 66 licenses strongly preferred; fully licensed candidates are preferred.
- Washington Life, Accident, and Health Insurance license preferred.
- Bachelor's degree required. A bachelor's degree is required to pursue and maintain CFP® certification in the future.
- Prior experience in financial planning, wealth management, paraplanning, financial analysis, or a similar role.
- Experience working with financial planning software, forecasts, or comprehensive financial plans.
- Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills.
- Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
- Ability to review complex information and identify errors, inconsistencies, and missing information.
- Strong understanding of financial planning concepts, investment products, and client financial information.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with advisors and planning team members.
- Strong follow-through and ownership of assigned work.
- Ability to learn and adapt to the practice's processes, technology, and planning methodology.
- Experience with Ameriprise systems and tools is a plus, but adaptability and willingness to learn are equally important.
Benefits
Compensation & Benefits
- Compensation: $85,000–$110,000 annually, exempt, based on experience, licensing, technical expertise, and qualifications.
- 401(k) with employer contribution after six months of employment
- Profit-sharing opportunity after six months of employment
- Medical insurance, including multiple plan options
- Transportation stipend
- Paid time off based on tenure
- Eight paid holidays
