Sr. Financial Planning Associate

Description

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Senior Planning Associate manages sophisticated planning assignments from intake through completion with substantial independence, advancing Clearstead’s integrated planning model. The role integrates cash flow, estate, tax, and other planning considerations; develops well-supported recommendations; performs quality review; and determines when complexity or risk requires escalation. As part of the firmwide Financial Planning team, the Senior Planning Associate partners with advisors and client service teams on relationships with active planning services, provides technical guidance to Planning Associates, and improves recurring processes and deliverables. The role requires demonstrated proficiency beyond the Planning Associate level and supports a consistent, scalable, high-quality client experience across Clearstead. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Own the preparation and quality review of net worth reports, reconcile account ownership and values, and evaluate changes in assets, liabilities, liquidity, and account titling to identify planning opportunities and recommend next steps to the advisor.
• Build and interpret cash flow analyses in financial planning software by validating client data and assumptions, coordinating information requests through the advisor, modeling and comparing planning scenarios, and translating results into well-supported recommendations.
• Review client wills, trusts, powers of attorney, marital and partnership agreements, and other legal documents; prepare clear summaries and flowcharts; and identify planning opportunities, potential gaps, and recommendations, escalating complex or higher-risk issues to senior team members.
• Research and model financial, charitable, estate, and tax planning strategies related to proposed or completed transactions, independently evaluating alternatives and consulting senior team members on matters involving unusual complexity or elevated risk.
• Prepare and quality-review specialized planning analyses and deliverables addressing topics such as Social Security, Medicare, education funding, insurance, pensions, and executive compensation, integrating findings into the client's broader financial plan.
• Own the accuracy and client readiness of planning deliverables and meeting materials, applying quality control before work is delivered to the advisor.
• When requested, support the advisor in communicating planning information to clients; this role does not own the client relationship.
• Confirm that client information is complete, resolve missing inputs through the advisor, and document the key assumptions supporting each analysis.
• Own follow-up on assigned planning work, tracking action items through completion and keeping planning records accurate and current.
• Manage assigned planning work from intake through completion with substantial independence, obtaining additional review when recommendations involve unusual complexity, elevated risk, or matters outside established planning standards.
• Partner with advisors and client service teams to coordinate planning follow-up, clarify ownership, and support timely completion of client commitments.
• Provide technical guidance and constructive feedback to Planning Associates without formal people-management responsibility.
• Identify and recommend improvements to recurring planning processes, tools, and deliverables that increase quality, efficiency, and consistency across the firm. 

ROLE SCOPE AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS 

• Direct Reports: None
• Decision-making responsibility: Owns assigned planning work from intake through completion within established standards; applies independent technical judgment, performs quality review, develops recommendations, and determines when complexity or risk requires escalation.
• Key internal partner(s): Planning Associates, senior planners, advisors, client service teams, and the Planning Center of Excellence
• Key external relationship(s): External specialists, as assigned, in support of the advisor; no primary client relationship ownership and client interaction at the advisor’s request.
• Primary systems/tools: Firm-approved financial planning, client relationship management, document management, and Microsoft 365 tools
• Travel Requirements: Limited; based on business needs

Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Progressive experience preparing comprehensive financial planning analyses and client-ready deliverables, with demonstrated ability to manage increasingly complex assignments with limited substantive direction.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate planning alternatives, develop well-supported recommendations, explain assumptions and findings clearly, and provide useful technical guidance to less experienced planners.
• Strong technical knowledge of cash flow, estate, tax, and retirement planning, proficiency with financial planning software, sound judgment, rigorous quality control, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• CFP® certification or active progress toward certification; candidates with substantial relevant planning experience and a demonstrated commitment to completing the credential may also be considered. 

WORK AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Work environment: Office, home office, client site, or mixed environment based on the approved work arrangement.
• Physical requirements: Regular sitting, standing, walking, keyboarding, and use of standard office equipment; occasional lifting or carrying of light materials.
• Cognitive / communication requirements: Detailed analysis, prioritization, sound escalation judgment, and clear explanation of assumptions and findings.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS 

• Reliably owns assigned planning work from intake through completion, meets agreed-upon deadlines, and escalates complex or higher-risk matters at the appropriate time.
• Produces accurate, integrated analyses and clear, well-supported recommendations that require limited substantive revision.
• Applies effective quality control and reduces avoidable errors before work is submitted for approval.
• Coordinates effectively across advisors, client service teams, and the Planning Center of Excellence.
• Provides constructive technical guidance to Planning Associates and contributes to improvements in planning processes, tools, and deliverables.

GENERAL STATEMENT 

This job description summarizes the primary duties and requirements of the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every responsibility or task. Responsibilities may be adjusted based on business needs, consistent with applicable law. Nothing in this job description creates a contract of employment or changes the at-will employment relationship where applicable. 

ABOUT CLEARSTEAD

Clearstead is a financial advisory firm serving wealthy families and leading institutions. Our mission is to enable wealthy families and leading institutions to meet their financial objectives and achieve their aspirations, building stronger futures for their families, their communities, and themselves. 

We fulfill our mission by creating a unified investment framework for our clients and integrating financial planning, tax planning and compliance, trust administration services with investment management to address complex financial situations.