Are you sick of churning out suitability reports, feeling like your talents and ideas are ignored?
At Vital Financial Planning, we’re looking for an expert paraplanner to join the team and become a core part of our planning process. You’ll be working directly with the company founder to deliver top-quality, client-focused advice. Your ideas and opinions will not only be heard, but they’ll be also encouraged and sought after.
If you’re sharp, driven, and want your work to actually matter, then we’d love to hear from you.
Role Specifications
Job Title
Paraplanner
Purpose of Role
To work alongside Financial Planners, taking full responsibility for preparation and maintenance of client files, preparation and implementation of recommendations and Financial Plans (including cash flow forecasts), and ongoing reviews of client affairs.
Reports to
Company Director
Location
Newport, South Wales
Hybrid role with flexibility depending on applicant preferences
Salary
£40,000 to £55,000
Examples:
Diploma qualified, 3+ years’ experience = lower end of range
Chartered, 8+ years’ experience = higher end of range
Working Hours
35 hours per week
Flexible around start, finish and lunch times. Early finish on Fridays.
Holidays
20 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing for long service
Office also closes for two weeks over Christmas – this is not taken from annual leave (typically a further 7 days annual leave)
Additional Benefits
Support/funding for further professional qualifications
Matched pension contributions up to 8% of salary
Death-in-Service Life Insurance
Private Health Insurance
The Role and the Ideal Candidate
We are NOT looking for a robot paraplanner to pump out reports and be seen but not heard. You’ll be responsible for the planning process from start to finish, ensuring that files are complete and compliant. You’ll need to be technically proficient and confident in delivering highly accurate advice.
You will be qualified (level 4+) and experienced as a paraplanner in a financial planning firm (3+ years).
As part of a small team, you’ll contribute to our processes and proposition, ensuring the highest quality financial planning for our clients.
Our office is based in Newport, South Wales. We are supporters of remote working and a healthy work/life balance, however the ideal candidate will need to be able to occasionally visit the office (2-4 times a month), whether it’s for our quarterly team days, assisting the planners with particularly complex client meetings, or attending industry events/meetings as a team (note: permanent office work available, if this is your preference).
This role is not a stepping-stone into advice. We’re looking for someone who sees paraplanning as a long-term professional career with room for growth and development.
Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities
Client servicing
· Establish and build strong relationships with clients and attend client meetings when required
· Provide a friendly and professional point of contact for clients and enquiries by phone, email and in person
· Respond to client technical enquiries
Preparation & maintenance of client files
· Ensure completeness of client file/data gathering
· Confirm risk profile is determined and up to date
· Check all compliance paperwork is present
· Liaise with administration team to maintain accurate client records on the back-office system, platforms and any other IT systems e.g. cashflow and risk profiler
Preparation of recommendations
· Identify and obtain information necessary to compile client recommendations / cash flow forecasts
· Compile draft net worth statements; income and expenditure statements and financial cash flow forecasts for review by Financial Planner
· Identify areas for planning
· Carry out technical calculations
· Carry out due diligence on products, investments, providers etc
· Undertake research to identify suitable solutions to meet clients’ needs
· Prepare information/comparisons for analysis by Financial Planner
· Liaise with clients’ legal and tax advisers (if applicable)
· Consider current and future asset allocation for investment strategy in relation to client risk profiles and lifetime cash flows
· Produce clear, technically accurate, compliant and concise Financial Plans and Suitability Reports as per business process
· Ensure that all recommendations and reports meet legal and regulatory requirements
Implementation of recommendations
· Make changes to clients’ investments as necessary
· Ensure agreed action points get diarised, actioned and completed as per business process
· Liaise with administration team to process recommendations as per business process; assist when needed
Preparation of reviews
· Prepare and coordinate review documentation, including financial plan and portfolio review as per the Annual Review Process
· Review investment portfolios, asset allocations, risk profiles etc
· Carry out technical calculations
· Implement agreed actions post review
· Attend client meetings when required
Other
· General research related to all aspects of financial planning (e.g. product and platform research)
· Keep up to date with compliance changes and update templates
· Prepare and collate documentation needed for investment committee meetings
· Ensure CPD requirements are met and maintain up-to-date training records
· Assist your colleagues with technical enquiries and provide support when needed
· Other duties as directed by management