How Will Your Role Impact First Command?
The Director, Financial Planning reports directly to the VP, Financial Planning and performs a critical leadership role in supporting the development and delivery of First Command’s Financial Planning strategic vision. This individual is part of the senior leadership of the Financial Planning department and shares responsibility for developing, maintaining and enhancing core Financial Planning capabilities across the enterprise. In addition, each Director will have an assigned area of responsibility within the department’s operational structure, to be defined in a separate Statement of Responsibility.
This person is a visionary thought leader who builds and maintains collaborative relationships with key HO business partners, including Field Force Training, Advisor Ops, Supervision & Surveillance, Marketing, BIS, Legal/Compliance, and the Field Force. This person is a change leader who must be able to challenge the status quo, deliver innovative solutions and support enterprise-wide adoption while maintaining support for current Advisor processes.
This role requires a deep understanding of First Command’s business model and strategic priorities, the ability to access and apply industry knowledge and best practices to First Command’s processes, and the ability to interact extensively with senior leaders across the organization. Additional skills required include effective communication, collaboration, team building, conflict resolution, and change leadership.
What Will You Be Doing?
- See separate Statement of Responsibility associated with the current role opening.
Who Will You Lead?
- See separate Statement of Responsibility associated with the current role opening.
What Skills/Qualifications Do You Need?
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree required, Finance or business-related field preferred.
Work Experience - required
- At least 10 years in the financial services industry with a focus on personal financial planning and experience in face-to-face sales of insurance and investment products.
- At least 5 years’ experience in the financial services industry in a leadership role.
- Familiar with Agile Framework (Preferred).
Certifications
- Advanced credential of Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) or Chartered Financial Consultant Certification (ChFC®) required.
- Additional industry accreditations preferred.
- Must hold FINRA series 7, 24, 66 or equivalent (obtain within 6 months).
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Working knowledge of the principles of financial planning and deep subject matter expertise in core financial planning topics, including Retirement Income Planning, Income Tax Planning, Investment Planning, Risk Management and Insurance Planning, and Estate Planning.
- Demonstrate First Command core values and ability to work collaboratively.
- Knowledge of the financial planning industry and the business of personal financial planning.
- Knowledge of investment industry and the business of Broker/Dealers and Registered Representatives.
- Knowledge of the Registered Investment Advisor business and associated Investment Advisor Representatives.
- Knowledge of the life insurance industry and the business of a general insurance agency and insurance agents.
- Able to use analytical skills and judgment to solve problems with limited information.
- Must be skilled at conflict resolution.
- Must be able to effectively manage multiple projects and processes and provide timely situation reporting to all stakeholders.
- Ability to effectively communicate at all levels within the organization, both orally and in writing.
Statement of Responsibility:
The Director, Financial Planning is part of the senior leadership of the Financial Planning Department and shares responsibility for developing, maintaining and enhancing core Financial Planning capabilities across the enterprise. In addition, each Director has an assigned area of responsibility within the department’s operational structure which is defined in this Statement of Responsibility.
This role is responsible for all areas of Advanced Planning for the enterprise. Moving forward, this role is also responsible for leading the development and implementation of a HNW Client Offering, which may be an evolution of the current Advanced Planning offering. Core responsibilities of this role include:
Lead the design, development and implementation of a Financial Planning Engagement Process for a HNW Client Service Model:
- Collaborate with stakeholders to design and launch an integrated HNW service offering.
- Identify the relevant planning topics for target market and build a scalable engagement process to deliver it.
- Collaborate with Integrated Sales in developing a scalable process to communicate opportunities identified in the planning process, to enable follow-up and realize sales opportunities.
- Lead the Retirement Planning Advocate(s).
Represent Financial Planning / Advanced Planning for the field and enterprise:
- Stay current on industry research and trends relevant to this client segment.
- Serve as the SME for complex financial planning concepts and strategies.
- Advocate for the technology capabilities needed to identify, track and effectively service this client segment.
- Advocate for and support the creation of educational and topical content for Advisors to effectively serve this client segment.
Lead Advanced Planning Consultants (APC) Team:
- Enhance the team’s capability to serve as a subject matter expert on the financial planning process, plan development and case design, and on planning considerations for clients nearing or in retirement.
- Expand the team’s current focus on tax efficiency in retirement income planning to a more comprehensive approach which provides an accurate analysis of client’s current financial situation, an assessment of risks and opportunities, and strategic options to enhance client outcomes.
- Optimize the team’s operations to achieve scale.
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