Senior Paraplanner & Technical Adviser
Office Based - Liverpool
This is a hybrid technical/advice role, combining advanced paraplanning capability with the ability to deliver regulated advice on complex Inheritance Tax (IHT), trust and investment bond based planning, where appropriate. The individual will support Strategic Planners across the Company while also stepping into an adviser capacity for Strategic Planners yet to gain CAS status for such advice. The individual will work closely with Strategic Planners, Compliance and other business areas to design, support and, where required, deliver tailored, compliant, client-centric advice.
Core Responsibilities
* Complex Technical Research: Conduct in-depth research into IHT mitigation strategies, trust planning, investment bonds (primarily offshore), segmentation, assignment, top slicing, and time apportionment rules.
* Suitability Report Generation: Draft high-quality, detailed suitability reports for complex scenarios (e.g., pension crystallisation, Estate and IHT planning including the use of investment bonds and trusts) including where you act as the adviser.
* Cashflow Modelling: Utilize cashflow modelling tools to illustrate complex, long-term scenarios for clients.
* Compliance & Technical Oversight: ensuring all advice reports and supporting templates adheres to FCA Consumer Duty standards. Provide technical sign-off and quality assurance on complex IHT, trust and bond cases across the adviser team.
* Mentoring: Provide guidance, training, and technical support to less experienced paraplanners, administration staff and advisers. Provide specialist coaching to Strategic Planners on trusts, IHT planning and investment bonds, improving their capability on complex cases.
* Process Improvement: Review and streamline paraplanning processes to increase efficiency and accuracy.
* Company ethos: Be passionate and demonstrate behaviours in line with the Company’s ethos, vision and key principles.
Essential Skills and Experience
* Experienced Paraplanner with a strong track record in delivering regulated advice or acting as a technical expert in adviser led IHT/trust cases.
* Confident in engaging directly with trustees, executors, high-net-worth clients and professional intermediaries (such as solicitors and accountants).
* Proven ability to translate highly technical planning involving trusts, estate structures, and investment bond tax frameworks into clear client recommendations.
Essential Skills and Experience
* Strong, demonstrated expertise in Estate planning, Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning, and the use of trusts including registering with regulatory authorities.
* Experience with Intelligent Office, Iress, CashCalc, MS Office or similar tools.
* Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex solutions simply.
* Ability to act as a technical partner rather than just a report writer, with a ‘can do attitude’.
* Ability to manage a diverse, high-pressure workload.
Essential Qualifications
* Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (essential).
* Valid SPS (or ability to obtain SPS quickly) to deliver regulated advice on specialist cases.
* AF1 (Tax & Trusts) or legacy G10 strongly preferred.
* STEP Certificate or Diploma advantageous given trust complexity.