Associate Advisor

Associate Advisor

GFC Planning is an independent advisory firm based in Woodbury, Minnesota, dedicated to helping clients transform financial complexity into clarity and confidence. "GFC" stands for God, Family, and Community, a quiet reflection of the firm's foundational purpose and the values that guide how we serve our clients and one another.

We believe in delivering high-quality work, doing the right thing, treating everyone with respect, and giving generously where we can. As a growing planning-first firm, we're creating an environment where advisors can continue developing professionally while making a meaningful impact on the families they serve.

GFC Planning is seeking an Associate Advisor on the CFP track to support comprehensive financial planning and client relationships within a planning-centric RIA. This role is ideal for an advisory professional who has already participated in financial planning and client meetings and is ready for greater responsibility in plan delivery, implementation, and relationship management.

As a member of a small and growing team, you'll contribute across financial planning, client service, operations, and practice support while gradually becoming the primary advisor for client relationships entrusted to you.

This is more than a support role, it's an opportunity to have meaningful involvement in client meetings, financial planning, and relationship management, with increasing responsibility as your experience and confidence grow.

By the end of your first year, a successful Associate Advisor will:

• Serve as the primary advisor for an assigned segment of client relationships, with the Founder providing support and oversight as appropriate.
• Own the preparation, maintenance, and implementation follow-through for assigned client financial plans.
• Deliver a consistently exceptional client experience through thoughtful meetings, proactive communication, and advice that reflects our commitment to clarity and confidence.
• Demonstrate sound judgment by identifying planning opportunities, anticipating client needs, and knowing when to act independently and when to involve the Founder.
• Take ownership of planning and service workflows, creating additional capacity for the Founder to focus on the firm's highest priorities.

Required Qualifications:

• 2-5+ years of experience at a planning-centric RIA or similar financial planning environment.
• CFP designation, or actively pursuing CFP certification.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional background in finance or financial planning.
• Experience participating in client meetings and financial planning conversations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex planning concepts in simple language for clients.
• High attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while working independently.
• Proactive, resourceful working style with a bias for action and comfort taking ownership without waiting to be told.

Preferred Qualifications:

• SIE, Series 7, Series 65/66 FINRA licenses preferred.
• Prior paraplanner, client service associate, or operations support experience within a small advisory team is a plus.
• Familiarity with financial planning software such as eMoney or similar platforms.
• Exposure to CRM systems.
• Comfort using portfolio reporting, investment, and risk tools.
• Experience preparing client meeting materials, planning summaries, implementation notes, prospect materials, or advisor follow-up items
• Experience coordinating with CPAs, attorneys, custodians, and other outside professionals.

Key Traits For Success:

• Clear communicator who can turn financial complexity into clarity and confidence for clients
• Intelligent, fast learner who self-initiates, uses multiple resources, and communicates in concrete next steps
• Bias for action with the ability to identify problems and move them forward without waiting for direction
• Coachable, low-ego teammate who accepts feedback, owns mistakes, and adjusts quickly
• Detail-oriented and system-minded, with a natural tendency to build checklists, workflows, and repeatable processes