Financial Planning Associate

Financial Planning Associate

Financial Planning Team | Plan Development, Case Preparation & Advisor Support

Position Title

Financial Planning Associate

Department

Financial Planning Team

Location

Edina, MN (3600 Minnesota Drive, Suite 600) - Hybrid

St. Cloud, MN (705 36th St South) - Hybrid

Reports To

CFO / Director of Financial Planning

Works Closely With

Partners and Advisors, Financial Planning team (CFP® professionals), Investment team, Operations & Implementation team, and Client Experience Managers, and Executive Team

Classification

Full-time

Role Type

Individual contributor - entry-level technical planning and client support specialist

Position Summary

Stone Arch Advisory Group is searching for a highly motivated and organized Financial Planning Associate to join our financial planning team. This is where our advice gets built. Before an advisor ever sits down with a client, someone has to gather the data, run the analysis, pressure-test the assumptions, and turn all of it into a recommendations the client can take action on.

This is an entry-level position that provides critical technical and client planning support to our financial advisors, and it is vital to our success in delivering exceptional financial guidance. You will report to the CFO/Director of Financial Planning and work alongside an exceptional team of experienced CFP® professionals who will invest in your development.

We are looking for someone who is genuinely curious about the craft of planning - a person who wants to understand why a recommendation works, not just how to produce it, and who is eager to pursue the credentials to build a long-term career here.

How the Role Is Weighted

The mix below is directional. It will flex with case volume, market conditions, and firm priorities, and it is reviewed as part of your regular development conversations.

Focus Area

Months 1-6

Month 7 Forward

Plan Construction & Financial Analysis

Approx. 40%

Approx. 40%

Case Preparation & Advisor Support

Approx. 25%

Approx. 30%

Product & Technical Knowledge Development

Approx. 35%

Approx. 20%

Planning Standards & Process Improvement

0

Approx. 10%

Core Expectations - Plan Construction & Analysis

• Create, modify, and monitor comprehensive financial plans for clients and prospects.
• Use the financial planning analysis to develop personal recommendations, including insurance (life, disability, long-term care), asset accumulation and distribution strategies, asset allocation analysis, and tax planning strategies.
• Pressure-test assumptions and identify gaps or inconsistencies in a plan before it reaches the advisor.

Core Expectations - Case Preparation & Advisor Support

• Host weekly case prep meetings with advisors to prepare them for the client meeting content for the week.
• Clearly communicate planning recommendations and the reasoning behind them to all parties.
• Prepare for client meetings by gathering financial information, analyzing data, and creating a concise agenda to ensure a productive meeting.
• Follow through on post-meeting planning items so nothing is left open between the advisor and the client.

Core Expectations - Product & Technical Knowledge

• Develop and maintain a working understanding of life, disability, annuity, and long-term care products available through Northwestern Mutual and the outside brokerage firms Stone Arch utilizes.
• Stay current on tax law, retirement rules, and planning software changes that affect our recommendations.
• Pursue continuing financial education and credentials (for example, CFP® or RICP®) with firm support.

Core Expectations - Planning Standards & Firm Contribution

• Support the firm in maintaining and applying our planning philosophies consistently across advisors and clients.
• Identify inefficiencies or bottlenecks in the planning workflow and bring forward practical improvements that make the work more scalable.
• Participate in and contribute to team and firmwide meetings.
• Maintain a positive, professional, and team-focused attitude while working internally with team members and externally with clients.
• Maintain confidentiality in all client matters.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field - or equivalent experience.
• Minnesota Life, Accident & Health license - or the ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.
• FINRA SIE, Series 7 and 63 - or the ability to obtain within 6-9 months of hire.
• Desire and capacity to further financial education and pursue credentials (for example, CFP®, RICP®).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and financial planning software, with a willingness to embrace innovation and adopt AI-enabled tools and technologies.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong attention to detail with the ability to work with a high degree of accuracy and autonomy.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, ability to multitask, and time management skills with the ability to set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong work ethic and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative colleague and practical problem-solver.
• Professional and polished demeanor.

What Success Looks Like

In the first six months, success means advisors walk into client meetings fully prepared, because the plan and the prep were done well and done on-time. Analysis is accurate the first time, recommendations are clearly reasoned, and case prep is a conversation about strategy rather than a scramble for data.

Longer term, success means this seat is trusted to build a plan independently, to defend the thinking behind it, and to help raise the technical standard of the planning team.

Benefits

• Base salary plus quarterly bonus.
• 20+ days of PTO (based on experience).
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits available.
• Short-term and long-term disability.
• 4% Safe Harbor match to 401(k).
• Reimbursement for licenses, designations, and continuing education.

Stone Arch Advisory Group is built on four core values - Communication, Collaboration, Accountability, and Trust. We are an equal opportunity employer.

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