Financial Planning Manager

Description Financial Planning Manager (High-Net-Worth Clients) Department: Financial Planning Reports To: Executive Leadership Mandate: Lead, elevate, and standardize the financial planning function for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients. Position Overview The Financial Planning Manager is a senior leadership role responsible for owning the quality, consistency, and strategic sophistication of all financial planning deliverables for high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) clients. This is not a maintenance role. This position exists to: Take control of the planning function Eliminate inconsistency Build a high-performance team Ensure all planning work is accurate, timely, and strategically valuable The ideal candidate combines: Deep technical expertise (tax, estate, advanced planning) Leadership and team-building capability Strong judgment under complexity A process-driven mindset The authority and confidence to enforce standards Core Responsibilities Leadership & Team Management Lead, manage, and develop a team of financial planners Establish clear expectations, accountability standards, and performance metrics Conduct regular reviews of team output for quality, accuracy, and completeness Mentor planners on complex planning strategies and client communication Recruit, hire, and onboard new planning team members Own the Output (No Exceptions) The Financial Planning Manager holds final accountability for all planning deliverables. Responsibilities include: Implementing a mandatory review structure: Planner Peer Review? Senior Review? Final Approval Ensuring all work is: Technically correct Strategically sound Advisor-ready and client-ready Rejecting substandard work and requiring revisions when necessary No work goes out the door unless it meets standard. High-Net-Worth Planning Oversight Oversee creation and delivery of comprehensive financial plans, including: Retirement planning Tax planning strategies Estate and trust planning coordination Cash flow and liquidity planning Concentrated stock and equity compensation strategies Additional duties: Review and approve complex planning cases Serve as escalation point for advanced planning scenarios Advanced Planning & Strategy Design and implement sophisticated strategies for HNW/UHNW clients: Multi-year tax minimization Entity structuring Trust and wealth-transfer strategies Charitable planning (DAFs, CRTs, foundations) Asset location and tax-efficient portfolio structuring Collaborate closely with: CPAs Attorneys Investment team Establish and Enforce Standards Define what “good” looks like across all planning outputs Standardize templates, structure, and language Eliminate variability across planners Ensure clarity, consistency, and technical excellence Workflow Redesign & Process Optimization Build and refine scalable planning processes and workflows Identify bottlenecks and eliminate inefficiencies Ensure the right people are doing the right work Improve turnaround times and reduce rework Ensure efficient use of CRM and planning tools Cross-Department Collaboration Work closely with: Advisors — align planning with client goals Investment team — integrate planning with portfolio strategy Operations — ensure seamless execution Client Engagement (Selective) Participate in high-value or complex client meetings Present advanced planning strategies Serve as subject matter expert in client-facing situations Authority of the Role This role has the authority to: Reject or require revisions to planning work Redesign workflows and processes Reassign responsibilities Implement new standards Address performance issues directly Qualifications (Required) Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field CFP designation 8–12+ years of financial planning experience with HNW clients 3–5+ years of leadership or team management experience Deep expertise in: Tax planning Estate planning Retirement and cash flow modeling Preferred CPA, CFA, or JD Experience with UHNW clients (10M+) Experience in an RIA or complex advisory environment Experience with advanced planning tools and CRM systems Core Competencies Technical Mastery – deep understanding of complex planning strategies Leadership – ability to manage, mentor, and elevate a team Strategic Thinking – see the “big picture” across a client’s financial life Execution & Accountability – dives results with clear ownership Communication – translates complexity into clear insights Process Orientation – builds scalable, repeatable system Success Metrics Within 6-12 months, success looks like: Consistent, accurate, high-quality planning output Predictable and reduces turnaround times Advisors trust the planning team’s work without rechecking Clear workflow with minimal breakdowns Transparent and improving team performance Significant reduction in rework and errors What This Role is (and is Not) This role IS: A senior leadership position Focused on complex, high-value client work Responsible for both strategy and execution quality A builder and enforcer of standards This role is NOT: A passive manager A coordinator of chaos A junior planning or paraplanner role A siloed technical role with leadership responsibilities #J-18808-Ljbffr