Associate Financial Planning Nerd

Kitces.com’s mission is to help real financial advisors be better and more successful, creating a 100X multiplier effect for our work and the number of consumers we can positively impact with the power of financial planning delivered by a Kitces-supported Financial Advicer to their clients.

About the role

We are hiring an Associate Financial Planning Nerd who will write and support the creation of original Nerd’s Eye View articles (including research and analysis) on topics of interest to the financial advicer community, keep our financial planning Resources up to date, assist in developing speaker presentations, and provide other support to the Advisor Education team in creating Members Section content.

This is a full-time, entirely virtual position (work from anywhere, no relocation required) reporting to the Managing Editor as part of the Editorial Team, and working directly to support Chief Financial Planning Nerd Michael Kitces.

Responsibilities

• Annual Content Creation
  • Write 12 full-length articles for Nerd’s Eye View (1 per month) throughout the calendar year, including all related research and analysis, following the Kitces 3x3x3 content framework (increasing to 18 articles/year after one year).
  • Support the blog creation process, including developing relevant graphics and spreadsheet models to analyze key topics.
  • Monitor industry trade and other publications for potential articles for Weekend Reading recap or social media sharing.
  • Provide backup support to the Senior Technical Editor and Senior Financial Planning Nerd.
• Resource Responsibilities
  • Collect and post updated information for Kitces Resources, including the CFP Scholarship List and Master Conference List.
  • Maintain and update databases for Kitces AdvisorTech/Services Landscape Maps, AdvisorTech Directory, and future Services Directory.
• Other Responsibilities & Opportunities
  • Support the creation of new or updated PowerPoint slide presentations based on existing articles and site content.
  • Cross-train as the main backup for article and podcast production, including posting articles in WordPress and distributing content on social media.
  • Cross-train with colleagues to cover for team members during their time off.
• Future Opportunities
  • Serve as a paid Kitces Speaker for webinars or in-person conference events.
  • Provide paid consulting services as part of Kitces Consulting.
  • Become an instructor for Kitces Courses or Level Up training programs.

Beyond assigned responsibilities, we encourage team members to identify and lead new growth opportunities for the platform while learning new skills.

Requirements

• Self-motivated and able to work autonomously in a virtual environment with limited supervision.
• Strong inclination for continuous learning and self-development.
• Immaculate attention to detail, organized, and efficient.
• Service mindset with a focus on collaboration and supporting the financial advicer community.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-growing, adaptable environment.
• Legally authorized and available to work primarily within the United States (no visa sponsorship).
• Able to work at a computer for up to 8 hours a day and travel to attend two in-person retreats per year (January/June).

Qualifications

• Required
  • Experience writing long-form, nerdy content on financial planning topics.
  • Completion of CFP education or equivalent.
• Preferred
  • Direct planning experience with clients.
  • Master’s degree or other advanced designations.
  • Proficiency with Excel.

Pay

• Base salary: $72,000 – $97,000/year, depending on experience:
  • $72,000 – $76,000: < 3 years client experience and/or little writing experience.
  • $77,000 – $84,350: 3 – 5 years client experience + CFP or equivalent degree + some writing experience.
  • $85,000 – $97,000: > 5 years client experience + CFP or equivalent degree + experience writing for the Nerd’s Eye View blog or other equivalent long-form technical or planning content.
• Bonus potential: Up to 12% of base salary (payable at up to 3% per quarter), based on meeting key Members Section and business metrics.

Benefits

• $1,000 for technology hardware/software or related office materials (starts with a company-provided computer).
• $2,500 annual budget for additional training/skills education.
• $2,500 annual conference budget.
• Paid membership in a relevant professional association and for a relevant professional designation or certification.
• 15 days of paid time off (combined vacation + sick), increasing to 20 days after one year.
• 6 national holidays + 2 floating holidays.
• Company-subsidized health care plan (employee-only HSA-eligible plan covered 100% by the company).
• $50/month company contribution to an HSA or FSA account.
• Participation in company 401(k) plan.
• “No meeting” Wednesdays.

Work environment

We are a values-driven team committed to supporting one another and the financial advicer community. Our core values are:

• Do the Right Thing
• Advisors First
• Be the Trusted Source
• No A$$holes
• Get Your Nerd On

As a remote company, we use Slack and Asana for internal communication (with video expected on calls) and prioritize technology tools to protect time and boundaries. We front-load meetings to the beginning of the week to maximize focus time later in the week. While we attract many introverts, we also foster connections through a social committee that offers various ways to engage.