Financial Planning Assistant

Summary:

The Financial Planning Assistant assists Advisors in servicing clients, managing client contact, completing work for client meetings, and preparing financial planning client deliverables. Manages client contact to ensure client satisfaction. This position assists Advisors in the financial planning workflow and otherwise relieves Advisors of clerical work and administrative and business detail by performing the following duties.

This position will consistently follow high standards of business and professional ethics and legal and regulatory requirements when dealing with others and/or performing work activities.

Essential duties, tasks and responsibilities:

Directs and manages all client contact to ensure client satisfaction, including answering client inquiries, updates, and other client service needs.

Resolves client service issues to the extent possible before Advisor involvement is necessary.

Actively seeks to resolve client concerns and acts on requests in an accurate and timely manner. Answers client inquiries and provides readily available information to clients, if requested and as allowable, as it relates to servicing their accounts.

Responsible for research and preparation of client meetings by organizing and printing out appropriate reports, compliance requirements, deliverables, SPS and/or planning fee, and other higher level tasks as determined by Advisor.

Plans and conducts investment research to identify alternative investment ideas and opportunities for investment.

Completes financial plans on MoneyGuidePro and Wealth Studios, FAP, or alternate calculators (as appropriate).

Creates net worth statements, including goals and assumptions page, from financial plans.

As needed, updates net worth (NW) statements following client meetings, generally for planning clients.

Acts as the insurance specialist for the Practice, including preparing insurance illustrations, providing insurance analysis research, and making recommendations to Advisors.

Explores opportunities to add value to job accomplishments and to the organization, including studying and exploring new insurance products.

Properly documents all client contact, including phone calls, meetings, and mail handling in compliance with Ameriprise compliance standards.

Organizes, provides support to team members, and executes client-related projects.

Provides support to Advisors through innovative and successful resolution of client service issues and process implementation.

Provides general administrative duties, such as processing reports, preparing routine client correspondence, support for client meetings, set-up of client files, and new business corrections and alerts.

Provides back-up assistance for team members as needed.

Keeps immediate superior promptly and fully informed of all problems or unusual matters of significance.

Supports compliance within the practice and fulfills all compliance responsibilities. Develops an understanding and adheres to all compliance regulations throughout the course of employment.

Accepts and performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Competencies:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Client Service - Manages difficult or emotional client situations; responds promptly to client needs; solicits client feedback to improve service; responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.

Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict; maintains confidentiality; keeps emotions under control; remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.

Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions.

Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.

Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization's goals and values.

Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.

Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; measures self against standard of excellence.

Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; sets goals and objectives; develops realistic action plans.

Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality.

Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Initiative - Volunteers readily; undertakes self-development activities; seeks increased responsibilities; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; asks for and offers help when needed.

Qualifications:

To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

Education and/or Experience:

Associate or higher degree from an accredited institution, college, or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Advanced degrees in related disciplines are helpful and preferred.

Continued education- Lifelong learning is expected.

Language Skills:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret documents such as technical procedures, company policies, regulations and instructions, procedure and compliance manuals is essential. Must be able to write and understand routine reports and correspondence. Demonstrate the ability to speak effectively and clearly to individuals and groups of clients or employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills:

Demonstrate proficiency to add, subtract, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Must be able to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and percentages. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of contact management systems, database software, internet software, spreadsheet software, and word processing software.

Required to learn proprietary software including Hysales/Weisenberg, Portfolio Management Tool (PMT), AdvisorCompass, Client Viewer, Ameriprise Brokerage website (Thomson One), Contact Manager (CM), eForms Manager.

Proficient use of Microsoft Outlook, Morningstar Workstation, and MoneyGuidePro and Wealth Studios.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

No special requirements.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Work involves sedentary to light work in an office setting. There is frequent need to sit, talk, hear, use the hands and fingers, occasionally lift light objects (up to 25 pounds), and perform other similar actions during the course of the workday.

The work environment is typical office work such as you would find in a bank, insurance business, accounting firm, law firm, or other professional office. There are no unusual or

significant hazards. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Pay: $55,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person