Senior Associate - Wealth Management

Job Description

Job Description

In this support position, the Senior Associate assists the Wealth Management Managers and Directors with the services provided to clients such as the preparation of net worth statements and cash flows, and long-range financial projections. The Senior Associate applies financial-planning knowledge to support client engagements, prepare accurate analyses, and help Managers and Directors develop goal-powered strategies, optimize resources, and assess trade-offs among a range of choices under established processes and review. 

We are Aspiriant , a leading, independent, 100% employee-owned wealth management firm. Our core values guide us to seek out a broad range of perspectives, talent, and backgrounds to achieve our mission; one where all staff contribute to and share our success. We recognize, respect and value the contributions of each employee, and we strive to cultivate a work environment that strikes an agreeable balance between our professional and personal lives. 

• Collaborative work environment where together we achieve more
• Environment supportive of learning and growing your career
• Continuing education assistance program
• 401(k) with company match
• Bonus program
• Company contribution up to 95% for health insurance
• Hybrid work arrangement

How you will contribute:

• Help gather financial information and prepare net worth, cash flow, investment planning and investment policy statements, and other tools for use in wealth planning engagements.
• Prepare long-term cash-flow analyses based on personal financial goals, current financial data, inflation rates, and investment assumptions. Prepare scenarios for review by Managers and Directors to support client financial planning. 
• Prepare and review initial drafts of meeting agendas, PowerPoint presentations, and email messages. 
• Prepare and respond to emails and phone calls to and from clients and their other advisors in a thorough and timely manner, using established guidance and escalating complex questions to a Manager or Director.
• Proactively recognize client issues, propose solutions, and add insight to analysis.
• Participate in client meetings, support meeting preparation, and present assigned materials with guidance from a Manager or Director.
• Take notes and provide summaries of meetings for clients. Monitor action items and coordinate with appropriate departments using established follow-up processes.
• Actively participate in weekly firm-wide and client-specific strategy meetings and continuing education discussions.
• Participate in the continued process engineering of Aspiriant, developing solutions to identified issues as well as proposing new ways of working efficiently and effectively.
• Become proficient in financial planning software and CRM to update client information and onboard new clients.
• Support business-development efforts with COIs and COI groups, including assisting with event logistics, communications, and follow-up.
• Assist with Aspiriant-sponsored activities and events, including coordination, scheduling, materials, and follow-up for COIs and prospective COIs.
• Partner with managers and directors to reach business development goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Is this you?

An ideal candidate will be motivated by our mission to empower families to take control of their financial lives, live their values with clarity and peace of mind, and actualize their dreams. We seek out a wide range of talented team members who share our values and vision. We value intellectual intensity, collaboration, and compassion. A strategic partner once compared us to “a cocker spaniel.” We like the comparison. Our relationships with clients are professional first and foremost. They are also warm, passionate and genuine. 

The attributes and talents that lead to success in the role are:

Knowledge:

• Strong knowledge of personal financial planning such as retirement planning, employee benefits, insurance, investment vehicles, asset allocation, estate planning techniques, and executive compensation.
• Solid investment background and comfortable advising clients on portfolio optimization. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) required. PowerPoint helpful.
• Familiarity with managing investments, including concepts of portfolio design and diversification. 

Skills:

• OUTSTANDING communication skills – both written and verbal. Demonstrates poise, presence, confidence, and fluency, inspiring the confidence of peers and clients and developing productive client relationships.
• Takes ownership of all aspects of the client engagement (anticipation of issues, strategy development, meeting prep, follow-up, execution).
• Fluently presents financial planning materials and other financial planning concepts to clients and comfortably addresses most ad hoc questions related to client situations.

Abilities:

• EXTREMELY meticulous – must have proven ability to juggle multiple priorities.
• Impeccable ability to maintain privacy.
• MUST be a self-starting person who takes accountability for his/her work and diligently sees projects through to successful conclusion while maintaining a high level of communication with team members.
• A collaborator who will thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to effectively report to several professionals (each of whom has a unique work style) on a large variety of tasks and manage priorities amid an occasionally heavy volume of work.
• Interest in learning business-development practices and supporting relationship-management activities

Experience and Education:

We will consider any combination of experience and education which provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job. A typical way to acquire the requirements would be:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Degree in financial planning, accounting, finance, law, economics, and/or significant experience in a related field preferred. 
• Must be currently enrolled in a CFP program, or have active CFP® license. CIMA® or CFA® coursework is also valued but not required.
• 2-4 years of experience supporting wealth-management clients, preferably including financial-planning analysis, client-service coordination, or investment-related work. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

Primarily sedentary work in an office with minimal distractions; walking throughout the office. Learn and memorize tasks; execute tasks independently; apply knowledge and use judgment to handle situations. Occasionally exert up to 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Perform repetitive motions; substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and fingers for computer keyboard operation. Use near visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing documents, operating a computer, and reading. Speak and hear to communicate with team members and clients by phone and in-person.

Aspiriant is committed to diversity, inclusion and belonging.  

A diverse and inclusive culture is essential to providing the best to both our clients and our people. Including a variety of perspectives in all that we do is necessary for our innovation and growth. We envision a firm where our people see a community they belong to and an inspiring future…a firm where people can be themselves, learning is limitless, and everyone can thrive.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer that believes in and follows Fair Chance Ordinances, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other factor that is not related to the position.

Aspiriant is a Registered Investment Adviser, subject to SEC regulation, and requires all employees (and at times, family members) to disclose securities holding and transactions. There are also restrictions on trading certain securities. Candidates are encouraged to request further information regarding these policies.