Associate Financial Advisor

Associate Financial Advisor

Location: Redwood City, CA (in office or hybrid) | Full-time | Reports to: Director of Financial Planning Compensation: $90,000 – $124,000 base salary, depending on experience and level (Associate Advisor Level 1 or 2), plus annual performance bonus eligibility and benefits. Position Overview: Pettinelli Financial Partners (PFP) is a boutique, team-based wealth management firm. Every client is served by a team comprised of a team (Lead Financial Advisor, an Associate Advisor, specialists, and our client service team) rather than by one person alone. The Associate Financial Advisor is a key member of that team: you will partner with Lead Advisors to deliver comprehensive financial planning, lead meetings and relationships for a growing group of households, and make sure every client commitment is documented, delegated and completed. You will serve the families PFP knows best (special needs families, business owners and the next generation of clients) and help them “plan wisely, live fully.” This role sits on PFP’s planning career path (Paraplanner → Associate Advisor → Service Advisor → Lead Financial Advisor → Partner). It is designed for a planner who is building toward the CFP® certification and wants a clear path to leading client relationships of their own.

Duties & Responsibilities Client Relationships & Meetings

• Serve as relationship lead for an assigned group of households, and as second chair alongside Lead Advisors for higher-tier relationships.
• Take an active role in client meetings (presenting, not only taking notes)
• Follow PFP’s onboarding process for new clients and the case preparation process for review meetings.
• Participate in all firm client campaigns. Client relationship development and management, including ongoing and regular client contact and communications.
• Manage, delegate and complete all meeting follow-up items; send post-meeting summaries and action items to clients.
• Keep Lead Advisors and the client service team informed on all active and pending client matters, escalating concerns or client dissatisfaction promptly.

Financial Planning & Advice

• Provide objective, fiduciary financial advice by analyzing each client’s goals, cash flow, investments, insurance, tax and estate situation.
• Build, update and maintain financial plans in eMoney, including scenario and simulation modeling, and use eMoney reports in client deliverables.
• Support estate planning engagements
• Collaborate with Turnkey Asset Management Programs (TAMPs) on portfolio design, asset allocation and performance monitoring.
• Prepare insurance research, illustrations and analysis; confirm state licensing and product-training requirements before requesting proposals; follow up on underwriting and communicate details to clients.
• Manage the plan implementation schedule, including planning updates, portfolio changes and investment and protection policy reviews.

Business Development Basics

• Identify and log new opportunities - including assets held away - in CRM system, and position recommendations that deepen existing relationships.
• Ask for and track referrals, and contribute to annual goals for new households, referrals and net new business.
• Represent PFP at client, prospect and community events, including special needs community events.

Documentation, Process & Compliance

• Document every client interaction in CRM system within 24 hours, using PFP’s task standards.
• Submit complete, accurate service requests to the client service team and coordinate on complex requests before they are submitted.
• Use the firm’s technology stack - Salesforce, eMoney, Wealth.com, Zocks meeting notes and Zoom Phone - as designed.
• Follow all firm, LPL Financial and Stratos Wealth Partners compliance requirements, including annual compliance training and continuing education.

Team & Professional Development

• Attend and participate periodic planning team meeting, presenting topics of discussion on a regular basis.
• Help train and mentor paraplanners and interns.
• Progress steadily through the CFP® education program and exams, with firm support.

Contribute ideas that strengthen PFP’s culture, client experience and processes. What We Offer

• A defined career path with published pay ranges for each level and raises for promotions and for licenses and designations earned.
• Firm-sponsored licensing exams and CFP® certification support.
• Hands-on mentorship from experienced CFP® professionals and a collaborative team environment.
• Competitive benefits package.
• 401k with employer matching
• Generous PTO and Paid Holidays
• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage (70% of employee premium is employer paid, 50% of dependent coverage is employer paid)
• $1,300 Annual Wellness Benefit
• Tax-Advantaged Savings: Take advantage of Healthcare and Dependent Care FSAs, plus HSAs for eligible employees.

Pettinelli Financial Partners is an equal opportunity employer

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in finance, business, accounting, economics or a related field, and/or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of experience in financial planning or wealth management (for example, as a paraplanner or client service associate) with demonstrated client-facing experience.
• Actively pursuing CFP® certification, currently enrolled in a CFP Board-registered education program. CFP® certification is a plus.
• SIE, Series 7, Series 66 and California Life, Accident & Health licenses required, or obtained within 12 months of hire (firm-sponsored).
• Experience with financial planning software (eMoney preferred), a CRM (Salesforce, Redtail, or Wealthbox preferred) and Microsoft Office.

Other Skills & Experience

• Understanding of the RIA and independent financial advice channel, and a fiduciary mindset.
• Financial planning and wealth management acumen, sound judgment, and curiosity about how the pieces of a client’s life fit together.
• Reliable - follows through on commitments, owns outcomes and does not shrink from new challenges.
• Organized and detail-oriented; able to manage a high volume of tasks and meetings and keep priorities current.
• Commitment to accuracy and high-quality work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting to clients.
• Coachable - seeks out and acts on feedback.
• Collaborative team player who is adaptable to change and open to new ideas.
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, small-firm environment.
• Personal integrity and professional initiative; upholds PFP’s purpose, vision and values