Financial Planning Business Consultant

About the role

• Enhances field productivity and profitability by partnering with financial advisors to help them build and grow integrated planning practices.
• Provides in-depth consultation and support to advisors on financial planning, sales processes, products and implementation.
• Identifies and develops best practices, tools, training and resources needed to introduce successful financial planning services to the field.
• Leads projects to enhance centralized service models; drive adoption of Northwestern Mutual's planning and investment philosophies; and support the growth of integrated advisors in the field.
• Supports workflow refinement, team development and change management in alignment with Northwestern Mutual's evolving distribution strategy.
• Consults with advisor on financial planning, product options, suitability, and investment concepts and strategies.
• Analyzes clients' financial goals, current situation and portfolio. Thoroughly documents case notes and thought process for recommendations presented to advisors.
• Develops appropriate recommendation options to meet client needs, risk profile, time horizon and preferences.
• Coaches on the presentation of financial plans, investment cases and successful client presentation including handling client objections.
• Leads projects to enhance the program to increase alignment with planning, integrate investments and increase productivity in field offices. This includes development of tools, training and other materials needed to introduce and expand planning related services.
• Leads training and education through designing, planning, coordinating and presenting on topics including program administration, financial planning, investments, technology and workflow.
• Analyzes workflows and business opportunities to address program implementation obstacles and define centralized planning services to enhance retention and productivity of financial representatives and field offices.
• Other responsibilities may be assigned as necessary.

Requirements

• FINRA Series 7 required.
• Bachelor's degree in business, finance or related field.
• Minimum 3-5 years of financial services experience including both brokerage and advisory investment platforms with demonstrated investment knowledge and understanding of markets, products, platforms and services.
• Ability to assess client financial situations and analyze portfolios to develop and implement comprehensive plans aligned with client goals.
• Confidence in counseling representatives on a variety of proactive approaches and solutions.
• Strong analytical skills, problem solving, attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong consultation, organizational and communication skills including ability to establish rapport at all levels of the organization.
• High degree of self-motivation with leadership and initiative in sharing information, contributing towards group goals and accepting responsibility for results.
• 3 years as a financial planner or investment sales producer preferred.
• Financial Planning designations desired (CLU, ChFC, RICP, CFP preferred).
• Ability to travel as needed.

Skills

• Adaptive Communication: Formulates strategies to convey complex information about services, products, systems, or processes to targeted audiences; communicates and liaises between technical and non-technical audiences.
• Analytical Thinking: Organizes and compares various aspects of a situation to identify key or underlying complex issues through quantitative data and analysis; leverages business acumen, problem solving, and interpersonal skills to think critically and seek process improvements.
• Cross Functional Partnering & Planning: Facilitates collaboration, communication, coordination, and planning with individuals and teams from different functions to achieve common goals.
• Customer, Market & Ecosystem Knowledge: Understands market or customer-specific product use-cases, ecosystem dependencies, and competitor offerings; conducts or interprets competitive analysis of features with key competitive products.
• Financial Case Consultation & Resolution: Provides financial analysis and recommendations to resolve complex financial issues; reviews financial statements, tax returns, legal documents, calculates financial values and ratios, and interprets complex financial concepts and NM products to guide professionals and clients.

Pay

Compensation Range:

• Pay Range – Start: $89,360.00
• Pay Range – End: $134,040.00

Geographic Specific Pay Structure:

• Structure 110: $98,320.00 USD – $147,480.00 USD
• Structure 115: $102,800.00 USD – $154,200.00 USD

Final salaries are based on candidate skills and experience, market conditions, location, and other factors uncovered during the hiring process. Geographic-specific pay structures, compensation and benefits may apply depending on location.