Financial Planning Associate, Special Needs Planning Practice Job Description

Rockwood Wealth Management is an established financial advisory firm serving clientele from our office in New Hope, PA in beautiful Bucks County. We are in the family wealth management business focusing on high-net worth clients, families, and business owners. Through a planning process built on integrity, expertise, and attention to every last detail, we navigate our clients through every phase of financial planning and discretionary investment management. We have been serving this area and regional niche for more than 15 years and have a constantly evolving succession plan in place to ensure that we’ll be here 40+ years from now.

This is a unique opportunity unlike most in the financial services industry. First, our firm is completely independent…there is no broker dealer affiliation. Therefore, as fiduciaries, our loyalty belongs exclusively to our clients. We do not practice market timing, we are not a product-centric firm and we absolutely do not have a sales culture. We focus equally on our clients’ comprehensive financial planning deliverables and investment management. In addition, Rockwood is actively expanding its Special Needs Planning practice—supporting families who are planning for a loved one with a disability and coordinating the financial, legal, and benefits-related complexities that come with it. We are looking for applicants who are passionate about serving special needs families and motivated by work that is both technically demanding and deeply meaningful.

Second, we offer a competitive compensation structure and an equity ownership track for employees who demonstrate hard work and leadership characteristics while supporting the long-term goals of our firm. You will be a member of a collaborative and supportive team of high-performing colleagues all working hard to help us grow a successful and multigenerational business. At Rockwood, you won’t be stuck building your own book…all clients are clients of the entire firm; this is not an eat-what-you-kill position…we’re not that kind of firm.

The right candidate for this position is going to be equally comfortable generating an ultra-detailed financial plan and engineering and allocating a household portfolio across multiple accounts of different tax types…and then expertly communicating both to the client in a way the client enjoys the process. For this role, that may also include planning conversations around government benefits (e.g., SSI/SSDI, Medicaid), ABLE accounts, Special Needs Trusts, caregiver/guardian decision-making, and coordinating with attorneys, case managers, and other specialists supporting the family.

If you are an aspiring wealth advisor (not a product salesperson) we encourage you to contact us to determine if you might be the right fit for our firm.

Client Interaction:

Establish relationships with our existing and new clients
Monitor and assist with client meeting scheduling
Determine agenda items, update financial plan, goal tracking and mind map software linking all client information
Attend client meetings and take notes for CRM. Develop client meeting summary letters
Complete follow-up communication and implementation of actions that result from client meetings
Participate in various aspects of financial plan implementation
Join associations, groups, community organizations to give back and represent the firm in the area in a way you are passionate about

Financial Planning Contributions:

Responsibility for ongoing updates to existing financial plans
Assist in financial plan preparation for new clients
Interact with various Strategic Alliances to ensure that the outside specialists are taking good care of our clients’ needs.
Engage in ongoing financial planning education. Read industry journals and present your ideas to team, be active in local and national financial planning groups, and attend seminars and conferences

Operational Support:

Learn and adhere to firm policies and procedures
Establishment or execution of new accounts, transfers, deposits/withdrawals, trades, and other items when needed
Prepare reports and analysis for client service requests and client meetings
Work on firm-wide projects to improve overall client deliverables and firm efficiency
Be active in solving technology problems and applying the latest technology to our firm

Qualifications and Character Requirements:

Sincere commitment to the highest levels of personal integrity
B.A. or B.S. degree from accredited four-year university
2-4 years of experience in wealth management, financial planning, investment advisory, or related financial services field
Interest in Special Needs Planning (experience is a plus, but not required)
ChSNC® designation is a plus; we will sponsor the ChSNC® program for the right candidate who does not yet hold the credential
FINRA Series 65 license or equivalent, preferred
CFP® designation, or plans to pursue, preferred
Commitment to the financial planning profession and process
Must be problem solver who takes initiative and demonstrates ownership of one’s work product
Possess a “no task is beneath my pay grade” attitude
Show curiosity and confidence when dealing with clients and principals
Specific experience working with MoneyGuidePro, Microsoft Dynamics, Tamarac, and Fidelity or Schwab institutional custodian platforms are helpful, but not required
Constantly “do the right thing”, character wise, especially when no one is looking

Salary and Benefits Information:

Base salary commensurate with experience plus incentive bonus plan
401(k) plan with safe harbor matching employer contribution and discretionary profit-sharing plan
Company covered employee medical and dental benefits
Employer sponsored STD/LTD
Reimbursement for CFP® Exam fee, if not yet taken
Approved education and conference allowance
PTO and Paid Holidays
Hybrid/location flexible work environment: 3-1-1
Membership to local gym

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Financial Planning Associate, Special Needs Practice