Job Description – Paraplanner
Employer:
Future Financial Wealth LLP (Future Wealth Management)
Job title:
Paraplanner
Main location:
Gillingham or Hybrid after probation
Contract tenure:
Permanent
Role Purpose
To provide high-quality technical paraplanning support to the Practice, working closely with SJP Advisers to ensure Clients receive a professional, accurate and technically robust service. The role will provide technical expertise across financial strategies, plans and products, supporting Advisers throughout the Client journey and ensuring recommendations are aligned with Client objectives, the SJP proposition and relevant regulatory and compliance requirements.
Key duties and responsibilities:
· Provide high-level technical paraplanning support to the Practice, with a strong understanding of the St. James’s Place (SJP) proposition, processes, investment approach, and advice framework;
· Work closely with Advisers to achieve Client objectives, providing technical guidance and identifying appropriate areas for effective Financial Planning, whilst ensuring recommendations are aligned with the SJP proposition and suitable for the Client’s needs and expectations;
· Act as a key technical point of contact for Advisers, providing support and guidance on complex technical queries relating to investments, retirement planning, tax, estate planning, protection and the wider SJP advice process;
· Construct comprehensive financial planning solutions across investment, retirement, tax, and estate planning, supported by the production of computer models, cash flow analysis, and detailed reports;
· Provide technical input and challenge where appropriate, helping Advisers understand the implications of different planning strategies and ensuring recommendations are robust, suitable and in line with SJP and regulatory requirements;
· Work closely with Advisers throughout the full Client journey, from initial fact-find and financial planning through to implementation, ongoing servicing, and Client reviews;
· Consider current and future allocation of assets when developing appropriate investment strategies, considering the Client’s objectives, time horizon, capacity for loss, attitude to risk and the relevant SJP investment proposition;
· Compile clear, comprehensive, and technically accurate reports and recommendations that meet SJP and wider compliance standards;
· Act as the go-to individual within the Practice for technical queries, supporting Advisers with research, analysis, interpretation of technical information and practical application within Client cases;
· Prepare Client reviews, updating cash flow models, investment performance reviews and producing supporting reports, discussion documents, and computer models;
· Obtain and analyse relevant information, quotes, illustrations, and product details to provide meaningful comparisons and support the Advisers in developing appropriate recommendations within the SJP framework;
· Assist Advisers with the preparation of tax calculations and technical analysis where necessary, ensuring the relevant tax considerations are incorporated into the overall financial planning strategy;
· Provide technical support and preparation for Client review meetings, including reviewing existing arrangements, identifying planning opportunities and highlighting areas requiring further Adviser consideration;
· Support Advisers with complex or non-standard cases, escalating matters where appropriate and working with relevant SJP technical, investment, compliance, or operational teams to achieve appropriate outcomes;
· Maintain a strong working knowledge of SJP processes, advice notes, templates, technical guidance, and proposition changes, ensuring the Practice remains up to date and that advice is delivered consistently and within the required framework;
· Keep up to date with relevant changes to legislation, regulation, taxation, SJP policies and technical guidance, communicating key developments to Advisers and the wider Practice where appropriate;
· Build strong relationships with Advisers and Practice colleagues, providing an initiative-taking technical service that enables Advisers to focus on Client relationships while ensuring cases are technically robust, researched and progressed efficiently.
·
Specific authorities:
Key holder for practice office
Specific requirements:
Occasional travel to other SJP locations.
Person specification:
Knowledge and experience:
- Previous technical paraplanning experience within a St. James’s Place (SJP) Partner Practice or strong experience working within the SJP environment;
- Strong working knowledge of the SJP proposition, investment approach, advice processes, systems, templates, and compliance requirements;
- Minimum Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning / Diploma in Financial Planning (PFS) qualified, or working towards the qualification;
- Previous experience providing technical support to SJP Advisers, with the ability to understand complex Client objectives and translate these into suitable financial planning solutions;
- Good knowledge and practical experience across investments, pensions, retirement planning, tax planning, estate planning, and protection;
- Experience using SJP systems, tools and processes, including relevant cash flow modelling, investment research, Client review, and advice systems;
- Familiarity with SJP investment funds, investment strategies, risk profiling and the wider SJP investment proposition;
- Experience producing and working with SJP Suitability Letters, review documentation, advice templates and supporting technical documentation;
- Experience of preparing and reviewing Client cases from initial advice through to implementation and ongoing servicing;
- Experience supporting Advisers with complex technical queries and providing clear, practical guidance within the SJP advice framework;
- Strong understanding of relevant financial services legislation, regulation, and compliance requirements, with the ability to keep up to date with changes affecting the SJP proposition and advice process;
- Experience of working with SJP internal technical, investment, compliance and administrative teams would be advantageous;
- Chartered Financial Planner status or progress towards Chartered status would be preferred.
Skills and behaviours:
- Strong technical knowledge with the confidence to act as a key point of contact for Advisers on technical queries;
- Able to accurately transpose and analyse Client information and translate financial objectives into clear and appropriate planning solutions;
- Strong numeracy and analytical skills, with excellent diligence;
- Confident and experienced in working with SJP templates, Suitability Letters, advice notes, and established processes;
- Confident in dealing with SJP, third parties and professional connections while maintaining complete discretion and confidentiality;
- Highly organised, with excellent written and verbal communication skills;
- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel;
- Able to manage multiple Client cases and competing priorities effectively while maintaining a high standard of accuracy;
- Able to work calmly and effectively under pressure and respond positively to conflicting demands;
- Proactive in identifying technical issues, planning opportunities and areas where Advisers may require additional support;
- Demonstrates a positive, professional, and collaborative attitude at all times;
- Able to work independently and take ownership of tasks, while also contributing effectively to shared Practice objectives;
- Strong relationship-building skills with Advisers, Practice colleagues, Clients, and external professional connections;
- Commercially aware and focused on providing a high-quality technical support service that enables Advisers to deliver an excellent Client experience;
- Enthusiastic about financial planning and committed to supporting Advisers in achieving the best possible outcomes for Clients.
·
Required Competencies:
· Quality Focus: Takes personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work and achieves results with minimal supervision. Stays focused on tasks in spite of distractions and interruptions.
· Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and commitment within a team to achieve goals and deliverables.
· Embracing Change: Responds positively to change, embracing and using new practices or values to accomplish goals and solve problems.
· Developing Self and Others: Demonstrates an ongoing commitment to learning and self-improvement.
· Communicating Effectively: Understands and learns from what others say and conveys ideas and facts using language the audience will best understand.
· Planning and Organising: Manages own time, priorities, and resources to achieve goals.
· Client Care: Builds and maintains a first-class experience for the client through the products and services offered by the business.
This role profile sets out the scope and main duties of the post at the date on which it was drawn up. Such details may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the level or remuneration of the post. All employees of the practice are expected to be flexible in undertaking the duties and responsibilities attached to their role and may be asked to perform other duties which reasonably correspond to the general character of their role and their level of responsibility.
Pay: £40,000.00-£48,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Life insurance
- Private medical insurance
- Referral programme
- Sick pay
- Work from home
Work Location: In person
