Director of Financial Planning

About the role

Kestra Financial is a wealth management platform dedicated to empowering independent financial professionals—including traditional and hybrid RIAs—to grow their businesses and deliver exceptional client service. The Director of Financial Planning serves as a critical support resource for approximately 1,450 financial advisors, assisting them in addressing complex financial planning needs within their advisory practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide mentorship and guidance to financial planners and junior team members.
• Lead and execute special projects designed to advance the strategic priorities of the Advanced Planning department.
• Identify opportunities to improve planning processes, tools, and service delivery models.
• Take ownership of tech stack – analyze and make recommendations regarding adoption of new planning tools.
• Drive the development of new planning frameworks, client deliverables, and intellectual capital.
• Create and deliver educational content for internal teams and clients (e.g., presentations, whitepapers, webinars).
• Collaborate with financial advisors to gather client data, assess financial goals, and develop tailored financial plans using advanced modeling techniques and software tools.
• Analyze client financial situations to identify planning opportunities and risks across multiple disciplines, including investment strategies, tax optimization, estate planning, retirement income projections, and insurance coverage.
• Prepare and deliver high-impact presentations of financial plans and recommendations to investors, financial advisors, and other stakeholders, translating complex concepts into clear, actionable insights.
• Provide ongoing support and consultation to financial advisors on planning best practices, planning technology, emerging trends, and customized solutions for their client base.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of financial planning regulations, market conditions, and industry developments to enhance advisory support.
• Document all planning activities, recommendations, and client interactions in accordance with firm policies and compliance requirements.
• Attend company sponsored conferences and events and actively engage with attendees.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in financial planning, with demonstrated success in executing sophisticated planning strategies and driving cross-functional initiatives.
• CFP Required.
• Motivated to improve processes and excited for the opportunity to build up the planning offering.
• In-depth knowledge of financial planning principles, including investment analysis, tax strategies, estate planning, retirement modeling, and risk management.
• Proficiency in financial planning software (e.g., MoneyGuidePro, eMoney, RightCapital, Holistiplan, or similar tools) and advanced Excel modeling for scenario analysis and projections.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate complex financial data and identify optimization opportunities.
• Exceptional presentation and communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical information clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, including investors and advisors.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with financial advisors and clients, demonstrating empathy, professionalism, and a client-centric approach.
• High attention to detail, organizational skills, and the capacity to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment supporting a large advisor network.
• Experience working with High-Net-Worth clients (above $10M in net worth) preferred.
• Interest in staying abreast of planning technology as it evolves through AI.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and benefits with a large employer (over 1600 employees nationwide)
• 401(k), health insurance, and a competitive benefits package
• Work in a supportive, collaborative environment committed to professional excellence
• Help clients navigate meaningful financial decisions with confidence
• Opportunities for training, development, and long-term growth within the firm
• Tuition reimbursement for qualified expenses