Financial Planner job description.
A financial planner helps individuals and families set and achieve financial goals, covering retirement, investments, insurance, and estate planning. They assess client financial situations, build personalized plans, and provide ongoing guidance to adjust strategies as circumstances or markets change, often building long-term client relationships built on trust and results.
The Financial Planner job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Financial Planner Reports to: Branch Manager or Director of Wealth Management
A financial planner helps individuals and families set and achieve financial goals, covering retirement, investments, insurance, and estate planning. They assess client financial situations, build personalized plans, and provide ongoing guidance to adjust strategies as circumstances or markets change, often building long-term client relationships built on trust and results.
- Meet with clients to assess financial goals, income, and risk tolerance
- Develop comprehensive financial plans covering savings, investments, and retirement
- Recommend insurance, tax, and estate planning strategies
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Branch Manager or Director of Wealth Management
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Meet with clients to assess financial goals, income, and risk tolerance
- Develop comprehensive financial plans covering savings, investments, and retirement
- Recommend insurance, tax, and estate planning strategies
- Monitor and adjust client portfolios based on market conditions and goals
- Explain financial concepts and products in clear, accessible terms
- Maintain compliance with applicable financial regulations and disclosures
- Build and retain long-term client relationships through regular reviews
- Stay current on market trends, tax law, and financial products
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, or related field
- Current licensure/registration as required by state and employer (e.g., Series 65/66)
- Strong analytical and interpersonal communication skills
- Proficiency with financial planning software
- CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designation
- 3+ years of experience in wealth management or advisory services
- Experience with high-net-worth or small-business clients
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Financial Planner job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Financial Planner job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Branch Manager or Director of Wealth Management) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- Do financial planners need a specific license?
- Most financial planners need state or FINRA registration to sell securities or provide advice, with exact requirements depending on the products and services offered.
- What's the difference between a financial planner and a financial advisor?
- The terms overlap significantly; financial planner typically emphasizes comprehensive, goal-based planning, while financial advisor can refer more broadly to investment or wealth management services.
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This Financial Planner job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.