Financial Planning Specialist

Paragon Wealth Advisors is seeking an experienced and analytical Financial Planning Specialist to support a growing financial planning team in Seattle, WA. The role works closely with the primary Financial Planning Specialist and Financial Advisors, providing capacity across financial forecasting, plan preparation, research, quality control, client meeting support, and other planning‑related responsibilities. The position offers the opportunity to take on greater responsibility as additional planning work is brought in‑house.

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.
  • Take on increasing responsibility related to planning analysis and recommendations, depending on experience and demonstrated capability.
• Quality Control & Accuracy
  • Serve as a 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 means becoming a trusted and knowledgeable planning resource for the team, ensuring financial planning work is accurate, complete, and ready for advisor review while providing valuable capacity to a growing function. As experience and capabilities grow, the specialist may take on more complex analysis, planning work, and increased responsibility, potentially shaping the practice’s in‑house planning capabilities.

Requirements

• 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 (necessary 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 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.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $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 with multiple plan options.
• Transportation stipend.
• Paid time off based on tenure.
• Eight paid holidays.